June 11, 1999
by Lyn Sherwood
Eloy Cavazos was born in Monterrey,
but he's a Mexican treasure. The slightly over five-foot-tall
matador, has spent more than three decades, performing in the
bullrings of the world. In spite of his diminutive size, Cavazos
is one of the greatest swordsmen in Mexican bullfight history,
and certainly the best of the current crop of toreros, most of
whom are young enough to be sons of the famous matador.
In 1985, Eloy retired from bullfighting. In 1987, he changed his mind, and returned to the rings. Now, at 50+ years of age, with his body wracked by goring scars, he insists that he will never retire. In fact, his most recent goring was suffered, just last month, during the Feria de San Marcos, in Aguascalientes. Although the goring was in the stomach, Eloy recovered quickly. Some say that he has been gored so frequently, he has become immune to horn wounds.
In the Tijuana season of 1997, Eloy Cavazos was the most triumphant matador. And, this coming Sunday, he may make still another bid to be proclaimed the best that Mexico has to offer.
Eloy will be the very senior sword in Plaza El Toreo de Tijuana. Appearing with him in challenging a herd of Begoña bulls, will be Rejoneador Giovani Eloy, Alfredo Gutierrez, and Oscar San Román.
Goivani Eloy and Alfredo Gutierrez will be making their Tijuana debuts. Both had excellent 1998-1992 winter seasons in Mexico's interiors, as did Oscar San Román. The latter, a nephew of Matador Ernesto San Román, made a most impressive Tijuana debut in 1998.
It's an attractive card, one that should attract a large crowd, especially those aficionados who rarely have the opportunity to see a rejoneador perform in Tijuana. The action begins at 4:30.
TORO TOPICS
There is always a lot of anticipation for the annual Feria de San Isidro, in Madrid's Plaza de Las Ventas. But, the publicity surrounding the feria is usually much more optimistic than are the bullfights presented.
This season's feria saw a total of only 11 ears awarded in 22 bullfights. The triunfador was José Tomás, who won an ear from each of his bulls, May 18, and another ear on May 26. Others winning ears included Novillero Juan Bautista (two), June 3; and matadores Enrique Ponce (one); Eugenio de Mora (one); Joao Mora (one); and José Luis Bote (one).
The feria wasn't without its injuries. On June 2, Miguel Abellán received a grave goring of 15 centimeters, in the groin. And, on May 17, Anibal Ruiz broke a leg.
The legitimate son of the famous "El Cordobés," Manuel Benitez Freizer "El Licenciado," performed in a novillada without picadores, May 16, in Marbella, Spain, and cut four ears and a tail. At the end of the afternoon, the youngster announced that it would be the last time that he would dress in the suit of lights.
It should be noted that it's usually much easier to win ears in the very popular tourist city of Marbella than it is in practically any Mexican border bullring, even including Mexicali.
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