Perera vs Emilio de Justo: The Mano a Mano of Ten Puertas Grandes
8 de October de 2024
This is no ordinary mano a mano. Not in any ring, but even less so in Madrid. Between them, Perera and Emilio de Justo have
Since Plaza 1 has been in charge of Las Ventas, it has become a tradition: September is dedicated to the bull. This means bullfights or novilladas (fights with young bulls), contests, and rancher challenges featuring less common bull breeds, particularly those from different regions. As a seasonal bullring, Las Ventas offers a variety of events for all tastes and audiences. In this penultimate month before the arena closes until the next spring, the bull takes center stage.
The first two Sundays of the month (the 1st and 8th) are scheduled for rancher challenges.
On the first of these, two herds with strong ties to Madrid, Saltillo and Valdellán, will be featured. The former, owned by Moreno Silva, is highly valued by those who appreciate the importance of the bull itself, while the latter, a herd from León of Santa Coloma lineage, has established a more recent connection with this arena, where it has produced bulls of great vitality and a strong sense of breed in recent years.
Sánchez Vara, who achieved a remarkable feat 15 days ago by fighting a solo corrida in Tafalla with bulls from Casta Navarra, Rubén Pinar, and Damián Castaño, who triumphed decisively this Sunday in Bilbao, will be responsible for their fights.
On Sunday the 8th, it will be the turn of bulls from Dolores Aguirre and the Portuguese Sobral. The “Dolores” bulls (of Atanasio lineage) have already attracted attention this season in San Agustín de Guadalix (Feria del Aficionado) and a few days ago in Bilbao, where the fierce “Argelón” stood out. Additionally, they fought in a novillada with potential last month at Las Ventas. Sobral’s herd, of Cebada Gago origin, is known for its striking coats and well-developed horns.
Pepe Moral, Miguel de Pablo, who achieved an epic and resounding victory last Saturday in Colmenar Viejo, and Luis Gerpe will be the matadors facing them.
On Sunday the 15th, there will be a corrida concurso, a type of event that is unfortunately rarely seen nowadays, with only a few scheduled during the season, notably in Zaragoza or Vic Fezensac. The herds announced are Concha y Sierra, Palha, Partido de Resina, Castillejo de Huebra, Pedraza de Yeltes, and Salvador Gavira García, and the matadors Rafael de Julia, Ángel Sánchez, and Amor Rodríguez will aim to showcase them and achieve victory.
Finally, on Sunday the 22nd, it will be the turn of the Bañuelos bulls, known as the “cold weather bulls” due to their traditional reputation. This Burgos-based breeder produced a remarkable fight in this ring in 2016 and now returns with the intention of recapturing that success, when all six bulls performed brilliantly and Javier Jiménez opened the Puerta Grande. This time, the selected lineup is international, featuring the Colombian Juan de Castilla, the Mexican Isaac Fonseca, and José Fernando Molina from Albacete.
This will be the last event before the Autumn Fair, which begins on Saturday, September 28th, with the farewell of a legend, from this arena and from bullfighting itself: Enrique Ponce. But that, of course, is another story.
This is no ordinary mano a mano. Not in any ring, but even less so in Madrid. Between them, Perera and Emilio de Justo have
In the upcoming Autumn Fair, one of the key matadors in the history of Las Ventas over the last 40 years, Enrique Ponce, bids farewell to Madrid. Servitoro reviews the Valencian maestro’s relationship with Las Ventas and breaks down his triumphs, one by one, so you can give the “colossus of Chiva” the farewell he deserves.
September is here, and the combinations for Madrid’s Autumn Fair are already appearing. A grand fair to bid farewell to the year at Las Ventas. Servitoro breaks down the lineups for you and gives you a heads up… You won’t know which one to choose!
