Jake Paul, the YouTube influencer with 21 million subscribers who has been boxing professionally since 2020, defeated 39-year-old Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. last Saturday by unanimous decision in a 10-round cruiserweight fight at Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Four days later, Chavez Jr., a native of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, was arrested by federal agents of ICE â the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency â who intend to deport the son of legendary Julio Cesar Chavez.
The senior Chavez is generally recognized as the greatest Mexican fighter of all time. In his 21-year career, the Chavez Sr. fought 115 times, winning 107 and losing only six with two draws. He knocked out 88 of his opponents.
Son Never Escaped Famous Father’s Shadow
Chavez Jr. has never fully escaped his father’s long shadow, battling substance abuse and enduring several arrests, including an arrest for allegedly owning two illegal AR-style ghost rifles â a type of homemade firearm â in January of 2024. He was freed on $50,000 bond in a case that remains pending, according to an ESPN.com report.
Along the way, Chavez Jr. has compiled a 54-7-1 record as a professional boxer.
Following his arrest Wednesday, the U.S Department of Homeland Security issued a statement describing Chavez Jr. as “an affiliate of the Sinaloa Cartel, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.” The Sinaloa Cartel is believed by law enforcement to be the largest, most powerful Mexican drug cartel.
The DHS statement said that the boxer had an “active arrest warrant in Mexico for his involvement in organized crime and trafficking firearms, ammunition, and explosives.”
Through his attorney, Michael Goldstein, Chavez Jr. called the allegations against him “outrageous and simply another headline to terrorize the community.”
“Paul’s business partner, Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian, said in an interview with Fox News Digital shortly after Chavez Jr.’s arrest that the team knew ‘zero about Chavez Jr.’s situation prior to his arrest,” Fox News online reported Friday.
About two hours after accounts of the arrest became public, Paul posted a message to his X (formerly Twitter) account with what appeared to be a taunting message to his defeated, now arrested, opponent. Paul posted no text in his message, just a single image of an American flag.
“There are two ways to interpret Paulâs tweet: Is he backing ICEâs move against Chavez Jr., or is he just hyping the Fourth of July a day early?” wrote SB Nation combat sports writer Alexander Behunin. “Paul hasnât clarified his intent, but the emoji sparked a firestorm of reactions.”
Fans Not Happy With Paul’s Flag Emoji Message
Many of those fans who reacted to the Paul flag tweet were not happy with the online personality-turned-boxer. One depicted Paul in ICE regalia.
“Everyone should boycott and unfollow everything this clown does,” wrote another.
Another taunted Paul for his career as a teenage actor on the Disney Channel, starring on the show Bizaardvark, until he parted ways with Disney after neighbors complained about excessive noise at his home in Beverly Hills, California.
And yet another ripped Paul, 28, for his support of Donald Trump â and his choice of opponents which before the nearly 40-year-old Chavez Jr. included 59-year-old Mike Tyson.
Paul publicly endorsed Trump in the days leading up the the 2024 presidental election, telling his fans that they should not make their decision in the election based on âyour favorite pop star telling you to vote a certain way.â
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