Fernando Vargas Jr., a professional boxer who, like his father, fights out of Oxnard, was arrested this week on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. The arrest followed an incident on Thursday evening in a parking lot at Universal Studios, a prominent entertainment destination in Los Angeles.
Universal Studios, a major entertainment destination in Southern California, draws visitors from across the region and beyond. Its sprawling parking lots are a familiar sight to anyone navigating the Hollywood area, serving thousands of daily patrons. It was in one of these busy parking areas that the incident unfolded on Thursday evening, according to authorities.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the crash occurred around 7:50 p.m. Thursday. Vargas Jr., 29, was identified as the suspect in a collision that involved two other vehicles within the Universal Studios parking facility. CHP officers responded to the scene and, upon their arrival, made contact with Vargas Jr.
The California Highway Patrol, responsible for traffic enforcement and accident investigation on state highways and certain other public roadways, confirmed details of the arrest. Their statement noted that officers were dispatched to the Universal Studios location following reports of the crash. It was during the interaction at the scene that the initial observations regarding Vargas Jr.’s condition were made, leading them to initiate the formal DUI investigation procedures. The CHP stated that its officers observed “signs of alcohol impairment” during their interaction with Vargas Jr., leading to the subsequent investigation. Following this process, Vargas Jr. was taken into custody.
His case is now slated to be submitted to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. This office will review the circumstances and consider possible prosecution related to the incident in the Universal Studios parking lot.
Vargas Jr. continues a family legacy in professional boxing within Southern California. Like his father, the retired fighter Fernando Vargas, he represents Oxnard in his professional career. The elder Fernando Vargas is a recognized name in the sport, having previously held both the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) light middleweight titles during his career. This background places Vargas Jr.'s recent arrest in the context of a well-known Southern California boxing family with deep roots in the region.