May 14, 1999
Bullfight World...
by Lyn Sherwood
The following, from the corrida de toros of Sept. 27, 1998, described a performance by Fernando Ochoa, perhaps Mexico's greatest hope to become the top figura of the immediate future and the main attraction, this coming Sunday, in Plaza Monumental, "The Beautiful Bullring by The Sea," in Tijuana.
"Ochoa's second bull was
a bastard, a manso that lacked all of the qualities that
one would anticipate in an animal of brave blood and heritage.
But, Ochoa was determined to extract something from the very dangerous
animal. It became a duel between him and the bull. The crowd didn't
matter; any potential rewards didn't matter, nothing mattered,
except to demonstrate to the bull and to the crowd that Ochoa
was in complete charge.
"Time after time, Ochoa demanded attacks from the animal. Time after time, the bull offered a half-charge, while it searched for flesh. And, time after time, Fernando Ochoa held his ground and demanded that the bull attack. It was both a highly technical and a courageous performance, as well as a disdainful one. Time seemed to stand still, as Ochoa delivered the most honest performance of the year. It was exhausting! Very few matadors would have performed with such naked integrity. At the end, he placed a low sword. A pair of ears was cut, but the matador discarded them. After all, the bull had not deserved surrendering its ears. That which Ochoa had accomplished was a statement of integrity and honesty, which nothing as mundane as ears could ever reward. Years from now, the fans will still remember that entire moment-of-truth performance that marked the maturation of a career that is destined for glory."
What more can be said? Fernando Ochoa is more than merely a fine torero; he's a man of integrity, a taurine who has served notice to all other Mexican matadors that he is determined to be recognized as the número uno. He has everything that it takes: a great build, good looks, deep courage, and a brand of tenacity that has only rarely graced the plazas de toros of Mexico. And, of course, he has the masterful Joselito Huerta, directing his career.
This coming Sunday, Ochoa will alternate with Uriel Moreno "El Zapata" and Jorge Gutierrez, facing a herd from Los Martinez, the same sextet that had been scheduled for the May 2 "El Juli" corrida, which was canceled when the young, Spanish matador suffered a goring.
El Zapata is, likewise, a fine, very courageous, young torero, an artist with the cape, banderillas, muleta, and sword. He invests in his work enough salsa picante to thrill the sunny side hedonists, and enough artistry to cause genuine aficionados to take notice.
And, senior sword Jorge Gutierrez, who has been acclaimed by some as Mexico's número uno, has for many years been one of Mexico's finest toreros, one who is known for his low, slow tenacity, especially with hesitant or manso bulls. Gutierrez's professional life has not been without pain. He has suffered several, near-fatal gorings, but always seems to return more determined than ever.
It is a very attractive card that will likely attract a large crowd.
TORO TOPICS
Venezuelan Matador Leonardo Benitez confirmed his alternativa, last Sunday, in Plaza de la Venta, Madrid, but he failed to impress the Spanish afición. He heard applause for his work to his first bull, and silence for his second.
It was a bloody Feria de San Marcos, in Aguascalientes. Eloy Cavazos suffered a goring, May 3. Although the goring was in the stomach, it was not considered to be grave.
Eulalio López "El Zotoluco is recovering from a very grave goring that he suffered during the feria. The horn entered his stomach and groin area, leaving trajectories of 25, 25 and 10 centimeters, respectively.
And, Spanish Matador José Antonio Morante "Morante de Puebla," was gored in the left leg. The injury was considered dangerous, but not life threatening.
In the meantime, in Spain, Domingo Valderrama, who was severely gored, April 25, by a Miura bull in Sevilla, will be out of action until mid-June.
Spanish Matador Jesulin de Ubrique retired, last month, after a comparatively brief career. Meanwhile, his brother, Victor, will receive his alternativa, May 15, in Jerez de La Frontera.
Although medical tests apparently revealed that Spanish ace Julián López El Juli is suffering from a cracked vertebrae, he has announced that he will fulfill his contracts in Mexico, this month. He will perform May 25, in Villahermosa and May 26, in Puebla. There has been no word about the contract that he missed, May 2, in Tijuana.
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