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CULIACAN, Mexico (AP) 鈥� Inside a sports arena in Sinaloa state鈥檚 capital, the crowd was sparse early on the card as young amateur boxers in puffy headgear threw punches and danced about the ring. Outside stood a bronze statue of Julio C茅sar Ch谩vez in boxing trunks, one glove raised.

The event Friday was organized by one of Ch谩vez鈥檚 brothers and 鈥淭he Legend鈥� himself was advertised as a specially invited guest. But Ch谩vez didn鈥檛 appear. It had been a difficult week for the family.

Ch谩vez鈥檚 eldest son, Julio C茅sar Ch谩vez Jr., was arrested by U.S. immigration agents outside his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, accused of overstaying his visa and lying on a green card application.

But more significant here in Culiacan was that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security also noted that there was an active warrant for his arrest in Mexico for alleged arms and drug trafficking and suggested ties to the Sinaloa Cartel. The agency said he would be processed for expedited removal.

The Legend

The name Julio C茅sar Ch谩vez in Culiacan is like saying Diego Maradona in Argentina. People stop and conversations begin.

Ch谩vez is the city鈥檚 idol and source of pride, known simply as 鈥淭he Legend.鈥� He went from a working class neighborhood along train tracks to the highest echelons of boxing fame and became a national hero.

But when the questions turn to Ch谩vez鈥檚 eldest son and the Sinaloa Cartel, conversation ends and eyes avert.

There was a time when many in Culiacan would speak of the cartel that carries their state鈥檚 name, perhaps with euphemisms, but openly all the same, because its control was complete and for that they largely lived in peace.

But since a bloody feud erupted between factions of the cartel last year, following the abduction of Ismael 鈥淓l Mayo鈥� Zambada to the United States by one of the sons of former leader Joaqu铆n 鈥淓l Chapo鈥� Guzm谩n, it鈥檚 safer to avoid any mention at all.

Alleged cartel ties

In the stands Friday night, the arrest of The Legend鈥檚 son, was on the minds of many, but discussed only in hushed voices.

脫scar Arrieta, a sports reporter in Culiacan, covers boxing and said Ch谩vez Jr.鈥檚 arrest had had a big impact in Culiacan, largely because the 鈥渉arsh鈥� way U.S. authorities linked him to organized crime.

U.S. authorities did not detail the alleged ties between Ch谩vez Jr. and the cartel other than to mention that he married a U.S. citizen who is the mother of a granddaughter of Guzm谩n.

He mused at why if there had been a Mexican arrest warrant since 2023, hadn鈥檛 there been any effort to capture him. He was a very public figure, active on social media and for the past six months or more, training for a highly promoted fight in California.

On Friday, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said that he had mostly been in the U.S. since the arrest warrant was issued.

鈥淚 think it was also a way for the United States to expose the Mexican government in a way, but without a doubt much more impactful, because normally sports doesn鈥檛 mix with anything else, much less with organized crime,鈥� Arrieta said.

鈥楢n excellent person鈥�

Culiacan鈥檚 boxing gyms had mostly been quiet since Thursday鈥檚 announcement of Ch谩vez Jr.鈥檚 arrest, in preparation for Friday鈥檚 event.

There had already been weigh-in for Friday鈥檚 fights and most fighters weren鈥檛 around.

At one that was mostly covered outdoor spaces, teenagers tightly wrapped their wrists, bounced and shuffled, shadow boxing in a circle.

Jorge Romero is a former professional boxer who trained under another Ch谩vez brother. Now he鈥檚 a trainer at Sinaloa Autonomous University.

Romero said he knows Ch谩vez Jr., regards him 鈥渁n excellent person, a great human being鈥� who had really focused on his training ahead of his bout in California just a week ago. He expressed full support for him.

Questions of ties between Ch谩vez Jr. and organized crime, Romero said, were 鈥渢oo delicate鈥� to touch. But in general, he said boxing and the cartel walked separate paths in Culiacan.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 have anything to do with organized crime,鈥� he said. 鈥淥n the contrary, it鈥檚 a clean sport, very healthy from my point of view.鈥�