Julio César Chavez Jr. to be released pending trial

Mexican boxer Julio César Chavez Jr., detained since his deportation from the United States last Monday, will be released pending trial for alleged links to drug trafficking, his lawyer announced Saturday.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., 39, the son of a boxing legend and himself a former WBC middleweight champion (from 2011 to 2012), was arrested on July 2 in Los Angeles by federal immigration agents because he was staying illegally in the United States, after a refused application for a permanent resident card.

After learning that he was under arrest for "organized crime and arms trafficking" in his country, the American authorities handed him over to Mexican justice. According to the US authorities, Chavez Jr. is " considered to be affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel, which is on the list of foreign terrorist organizations " in the United States.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has fought 57 professional fights (51 wins and four losses) at middleweight and super-welterweight during a career marked by multiple suspensions and fines for doping control violations. He lost his last professional fight, which was an exhibition at the end of June, to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

His father, Julio Cesar Chavez, 63, considered the greatest boxer in Mexican history, built a record in three different categories that made him a boxing legend: WBC super featherweight champion from 1984 to 1987, WBC and WBA lightweight champion from 1987 to 1988 and WBC super lightweight champion from 1989 to 1996.