Autumn Fair in Las Ventas: Morante de la Puebla says goodbye to bullfighting through the Puerta Grande | Culture

Morante de la Puebla (46 years old, La Puebla del Río, Seville) has decided to retire from bullfighting after cutting off both ears of the second of his batch this Sunday. At the end of his return to the ring, he went to the center of the ring, and while the plaza was a clamor, the bullfighter, against all odds and unexpectedly, cut his ponytail to the general surprise.

His work on that bull began with a spectacular somersault when he was bullfighting with the cape. The bullfighter was shocked on the ground, did not want to go to the infirmary and returned to his opponent’s face after finishing the first third.

Nobody expected there to be surprises, since the bull was as noble as it was bland and had very little travel. Despite this, a busy packing task was invented amidst the clamor of the shopkeepers. He killed with one thrust from the top and was awarded both ears.

With his light suit destroyed and his face taciturn, tired, as if out of his mind, Morante left La Puebla on his shoulders through the Puerta Grande de Las Ventas after starring in a truly historic day for bullfighting.

In the morning, he was the visible head of a festival tribute to Antoñete that has been an artistic and public success. In the afternoon, again with the “no tickets” sign at the ticket offices, he left modern bullfighting silent with an unexpected decision after a resounding victory.

It could be argued whether the two ears were fair or a product of the hubbub of the faithful of the civil religion of Morantism, who are legion; perhaps, in truth, they were generous because his opponent, a bull as noble as it was dull, did not allow him a round and massive task, a total work of art.

But, perhaps that is where his greatness lies; With that half bull, with a hint of a birria at some moments of the fight, Morante built—he invented, rather—a monument to packaging.

It had all started with a gallista cut on his knees in the third, and two very personal chicuelinas; Overconfident, already in the means, he suffered a tremendous somersault from which he was left helpless on the ground, seriously shocked by the blow. He was quickly assisted by his companions, and it was immediately discovered that he was not gored. Miraculous water down the neck, a brief rest in the alley and a couple of minutes later, as good as new on the bull’s face.

At this point, the square was a madhouse populated by a passionate public. And Morante’s work continued: low, first, gently, clean blows with the right hand, with the spell typical of this artist; two more rounds, short due to the bull’s lack of vitality, but with long bars, an exquisite change of hands, those lying on their feet, brushstrokes of inspiration, the sublime state of an artist full of creativity…

He prepared to kill and received a withering blow that littered the lines with handkerchiefs, and the president had no choice but to take out his own twice before they carried him instead of on their shoulders.

Morante took a truly apotheotic lap of the ring, and when he finished it, he headed to the center of the ring, with a short and temperate step, without haste, he put his hands in his ponytail (but what is that man doing?) and with the slowness typical of the character and among the general disbelief, he cut the addition in a clear gesture that put an end to his career.

And everything has happened on a big day for its history and for bullfighting. And in Madrid.

Logically, the bullfight had other protagonists. Fernando Robleño retired from bullfighting this afternoon. Nothing allowed him his first, just as happened to Morante with his, due to his lack of caste and excess of calmness, but in the fifth, the classiest of the bullfight, Robleño explained an artistic bullfighting, temperate and with the aroma of expensive bullfighting. He already announced it in a remove for excellent chicuelinas, a media poster and a revolera. Crutch in hand, he stood out for the two pitons with classy batches, with depth and elegance, which suggested that he would accompany Morante through the Puerta Grande. But, once again, Robleño failed with the sword, and his victory was reduced to a single ear on the afternoon of his announced farewell in which he had the love and respect of the Madrid fans.

Closing the poster was the young Sergio Rodríguez, who confirmed the alternative. Morante’s triumph and ponytail cutting, and Robleño’s farewell, two masters in season, too much for a kid who has just started his career. He kept his cool, he has good manners, a job, and he didn’t look out of place on such a busy afternoon. He could not succeed because his bulls did not allow him to, but he maintains his prestige as the winner of this year’s Chenel Cup.

And the run ended. The arena was filled with young spectators who lifted the two winners on their shoulders. Robleño, smiling and with a few tears running down his cheeks; Morante, broken, with a changed face while many fans stole pieces of his mauve and gold suit. Thus, with fatigue on his face, after a day of emotions, he left through the Puerta Grande and left the bullfighting of the 21st century orphaned.