Mexican boxing icon Julio César Chávez recently caused a stir by openly admitting that he personally knows notorious narcotrafficking figures, including El Chapo and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, calling them “finísimas personas” (very nice people).
Chávez said his acquaintance with these figures stemmed from social connections in his hometown — acknowledging that while he met them, he was never part of their criminal operations. He insisted that personal familiarity doesn’t equate to criminal involvement.
By making such statements publicly, the former champion raised eyebrows and controversy across Mexico, where cartel violence and drug‑related crime remain deeply sensitive national issues. Critics argue that normalizing relations with individuals linked to organized crime can send troubling signals, especially given ongoing legal actions against cartel networks.
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