Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was arrested for illegal possession of an assault rifle in Los Angeles over the weekend, according to a report by TMZ.
The 37-year-old former middleweight titlist and son of boxing great Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. was taken into custody by the Los Angeles Police Department.
Police were called to the scene because a fan was concerned that Chavez Jr. posed a danger to himself and others, according to TMZ.
Chavez Jr. apparently allowed the police to enter his home, whereupon they found, according to TMZ’s sources, a “ghost gun,” which is typically untraceable and can be purchased without a background check.
TMZ reports that Chavez Jr. was sent to a jail in Van Nuys, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles.
It is the latest kerfuffle from the troubled fighter, who has reportedly been suffering from drug addiction for the past few years.
Last week, Chavez Jr. took to social media to lambast his famous father, calling him “trash” and accusing him of abusing both him and his mother. The controversial boxer also criticized his father for keeping him in a treatment center against his will.
“My father tore my mother to pieces, he beat her, he humiliated her, she is traumatized, she can no longer do anything,” Chavez Jr. said. “She was damaged for the rest of her life by the same guy who is damaging me, a f—— bully, who says he wants to help me.”
Chavez Sr. has spoken publicly about being worried for his son’s health and his erratic behavior.
TMZ reported in November that Chavez Jr. entered a psych ward in Los Angeles after downing a dozen pills.
Long regarded in boxing circles as a child of nepotism, Chavez Jr. (53-6-1, 34 KOs) nevertheless carved out a noteworthy, if ultimately disappointing, career for himself, including a stint in 2012 when he challenged top fighters such as Andy Lee and Sergio Martinez.
The Mexican native, however, has not been a serious prizefighter for some time. He last fought in December of 2021, defeating David Zegarra by unanimous decision. Before that, he dropped a decision to UFC legend Anderson Silva in a high-profile “crossover” fight.
Sean Nam is the author of Murder on Federal Street: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mafia, and the Last Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxing.