Málaga: A Grand Fair, Remembering Paquirri

The poster for the Feria de Agosto de Málaga pays tribute to Francisco Rivera “Paquirri” on the 40th anniversary of his death. The bullfighter from Barbate is the main motif of the poster, which features a varied and attractive offering over seven days of bullfighting, as befits the first August fair in Andalusia.

From the 14th to the 20th of the month, La Malagueta will host the leading figures of this art form. Cayetano Rivera Ordóñez, the son of the honored bullfighter, will curiously be the first matador to take the ring on Thursday the 15th. Emilio de Justo and Pablo Aguado complete this interesting combination, which will take place in the Picassian style, after inclement weather prevented it from being held last Easter. By the way, Torrealta bulls have been announced.

On Friday the 16th, Ponce bids farewell to La Malagueta, one of his many talismanic bullrings. The genius from Chiva will be accompanied by another icon of bullfighting, Morante de la Puebla, while Juan Ortega will be in charge of finishing off a line-up where the bulls belong to the Juan Pedro Domecq ranch.

On Sunday the 17th, the Murteira bulls return to Málaga, a Portuguese breed with a great reputation in Spain in the 80s and which has been making a strong comeback to its former domain in recent seasons. Rafaelillo and Manuel Escribano, two specialists in this type of bullfighting, will head a combination that will be finished off by the local bullfighter Javier Orozco.

It is the turn of the youngsters on Monday the 19th, with David Galván, Borja Jiménez, and Ginés Marín forming a trio to fight Lagunajanda bulls. Three bullfighters with varied styles and a not inconsiderable curriculum despite their age. Undoubtedly, the best poster of the season.

The main event closes the fair on Tuesday the 20st: a mano a mano between Fortes and Roca Rey. A confrontation poster. Agarrón and clash. Sparks and strong emotions with two bullfighters who never hold back. Jandilla, Núñez del Cuvillo, and Daniel Ruiz, with two bulls each, will be the judges of this fierce battle, which promises to be one of the duels of the season.

A novillada with picadors on Wednesday the 14th of August, and a ‘Corrida de rejones’ event on the 18th, where, with bulls from Benítez Cubero and Pallarés, the Portuguese Rui Fernandes, the leading figure of this art, Diego Ventura, and the local rejoneador Ferrer Martín, complete the program in a setting with history and ancestry, and this year, with Paquirri in the memory and in the hearts of the bullfighters. Almost nothing.

José Miguel Arruego

Bullfighting journalist

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