The Claremont Police Department arrested boxer Joseph "JoJo" Diaz Jr. in Los Angeles on Monday night for a charge of misdemeanor child neglect. According to records obtained by TMZ Sports, Diaz was released on Tuesday afternoon. Exact details on the allegations made against Diaz remain unclear.
Diaz's representatives have yet to release any statement addressing the arrest. The boxer has also not mentioned it on his social media pages. In the ring, Diaz held the WBC interim lightweight title from July 2021 to December 2021 as well as the IBF super featherweight title from 2020 to February 2021. He maintains a 32-3-1 pro record.
Joseph "JoJo" Diaz Jr. In 2021
News of Diaz's arrest comes less than a month ahead of his scheduled fight with Mercito Gesta set for March 18. It's supposed to be the co-main event to the Zurdo Ramirez-Gabe Rosado fight. "1 month to fight night, this week I’m going harder in the gym. I wanna thank God for continuing to allow me to do what I love. Fight night I’ll be the best version of myself. I’ve been grinding hard. Everyone will see March 18th," he wrote on Twitter, earlier this month. He added in a follow-up, "I wanna thank all my fans that continue to believe in me and support me. March 18th I won’t let you guys down."
Diaz isn't the only athlete to deal with legal trouble this week. Georgia's star defensive lineman Jalen Carter is facing charges of reckless driving and racing in conjunction with a crash that killed a teammate and a recruiting staff member in January. Carter is widely projected to be a top-five pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. As he is in Indianapolis at the NFL scouting combine, Carter will address the charges when he returns to Georgia. He reportedly intends to turn himself in upon his return, according to Lt. Shaun Barnett of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.
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