New Matador in Texcoco: Revival of Bullfighting Culture

Six bullfighters from Guanajuato's Vista Hermosa complete the Texcoco lineup, which is undoubtedly attractive to fans and the general public. Tickets are available from 336 pesos on Superboletos, so everything is in your hands to enjoy an afternoon of bullfighting near the capital, at a fair that is reviving for the good of Mexican bullfighting culture. This Saturday the 4th, we will have a new Matador, as the Durango native Eduardo Neyra reaches his doctorate in full maturity, prepared and with the dream of fulfilling a lifelong goal and starting this new stage. Those times of the Texcoco International Horse Fair, from the 80s and 90s, are a memory for many of us. His godfather will be El Payo and the witness will be Héctor Gutiérrez, facing six bulls from San Pablo: another great lineup in Texcoco. It's our duty as fans to fill the plazas. Calita, a bullfighter who has been at the top of the rankings in recent years, is a guarantee of being good with the bulls. They understand that the market is there, but they prefer to "stay under the radar," lest they lose likes on their social media. The Silverio Pérez Plaza, during its Texcoco fair, went from being a great event to one where things became complicated for various reasons: the meddling of different promoters, the country's insecurity —even though we're told from the start that we are very safe— and, in bullfighting, in previous years, the formation of unattractive cards due to the matchups presented. This year, I was surprised by the construction of the lineup. The past fair in León was impressive, although personally, I was disgusted by his attitude when confronting the ring judge to be awarded a second ear for a gift bull; when denied, he threw the prize into the sand without any bullfighting grace, playing the martyr of bullfighting. Sincerely, the lineups have coherence, balance, and are attractive, on dates suitable for making the trip to the State of Mexico. He has more than enough value, knows how to fight bulls, has ambition, and connects with the people; I don't see the need to lose bullfighting form or the category that a Matador de Toros must always demonstrate. Completing the card is the Mexico City native Bruno Aloi, who took his alternative last November in Aguascalientes, who is facing his first season as a Matador de Toros and who, this same year, two months after this Texcoco afternoon, will confirm his alternative in the Las Ventas bullring in Madrid, under the guidance of Diego Urdiales and with witness Andrés Roca Rey, in a highly anticipated card against six bulls from the Juan Pedro Domecq ranch, in the Corrida de la Prensa during the San Isidro Fair. The first bullfight, from the Gómez Valle ranch, was a challenge with a full-grown bull, and I suppose the rest of the ranches will do their part to shine the honor of their house. For this next Saturday the 28th, which marks the beginning of Holy Week, a card—as you can see—of great attraction is presented. Today, the city offers some chain restaurants in shopping malls, or also, in a traditional way, in the restaurants inside the fair facilities, which continues to maintain a festive atmosphere with attractions and other amusements for young and old. The bull has presented itself seriously. In probably less than an hour's drive, you can get from the capital to the Silverio Pérez. A fair that was practically invented by don Antonio Ariza, with the backing, obviously, of Casa Pedro Domecq, at a time when brands did not shy away from traditions or turn their backs on culture. Especially when his two fellow matadors are a pair of young men who are coming on strong and whose intention is to place themselves at the top of bullfighting. The lagunero Arturo Gilio, with three years as a matador, has been climbing steadily, in constant evolution as a bullfighter. Nowadays, in this "globalized" world, we are full of lukewarmness, cowardice, and marketing hypocrisy in most cases. He has a craft, he sees it very clearly, and understands that he cannot and must not slacken off any afternoon. The same happens with beers: they sell, yes, but they don't advertise.