Fernando Vargas Jr. Arrested on DUI Charges After Universal Studios Crash

The Vargas name is back in the headlines, but not for a title fight or a highlight-reel knockout.

On Thursday night, Fernando Vargas Jr., son of former world champion Fernando Vargas, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after a three-car collision in a parking structure at Universal Studios.

The crash was reported shortly before 8 p.m., according to a report from NBC 4 cited by EssentiallySports. The California Highway Patrol confirmed that no one was injured in the incident, but the 27-year-old fighter was taken into custody at the scene.

In a news release, CHP stated that Vargas Jr. was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and that the case will be presented to county prosecutors for consideration of charges. As of now, there has been no conviction, and it will be up to prosecutors to decide whether to file formal charges.

The incident did not end with the crash report. A short video, said to have been recorded before the collision, surfaced afterward, showing Vargas Jr. shirtless alongside an unidentified woman. The clip only added to the swirl around the fighter, even as the exact circumstances of the crash remain unclear.

For Vargas Jr., this is not the first time off-ring drama has overshadowed his career.

Earlier in 2026, footage emerged of an altercation involving him and his younger brother, fellow boxer Amado Vargas, in a Las Vegas hotel lobby. The confrontation, captured on video, sparked talk of personal issues inside the family circle and dragged attention away from his work in the ring.

It has been a winding road for the second-generation fighter since he turned professional in 2020. He drew wider notice when he faced rising prospect Callum Walsh on the undercard of the Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez event, losing that light middleweight bout by unanimous decision. That defeat pushed him out of the spotlight just as it seemed he might break through.

He then pivoted to bare-knuckle boxing, resurfacing in London on July 25 at BKB 57. There, he delivered a reminder of his punching power, stopping Allen Gary Jhon with a second-round knockout.

Those flashes of ability sit in stark contrast with the headlines now circling his name.

For his father, Fernando Vargas, the narrative is very different. A former world champion and one of the standout names of his era, the elder Vargas built a reputation on ferocity, resilience, and big-night performances. His legacy still carries weight in boxing circles.

The question now is whether Fernando Vargas Jr. can steady his path, keep his focus on fighting, and write a story that isn’t dominated by police reports and hotel-lobby videos.