David Galán was carried out on shoulders after cutting an ear from each bull in the first bullfight of the Málaga Fair. Maripaz Vega bid farewell to La Malagueta with an ear, and Lavado cut his hair.
The first bullfight of the Málaga Fair left an unforgettable afternoon in La Malagueta, featuring three bullfighters from Málaga as the main protagonists. David Galán, returning to this arena after eleven years, achieved the greatest triumph by cutting an ear from each of his opponents and being carried out through the crew gate.
Maripaz Vega, in her farewell from the ring, also walked away with an ear on a day filled with symbolism. José Antonio Lavado, in only his second fight since his alternative, created the most unexpected image by symbolically cutting his hair after his performance on the sixth bull.
The Lagunajanda bull herd, featuring two notable specimens, provided substance to the event, which began with an institutional gesture: the vice president of the Diputación, Manuel Marmolejo, presented a biznaga to Maripaz Vega before the first bull was released, with businessman Alberto García as a witness.
An emotional farewell
Maripaz Vega closed her cycle in Málaga thirty-five years after her debut. The girl from El Palo who wanted to be a bullfighter returned to the sand where she trained and built so many dreams. She received the first bull with a long change on her knees and, while the pasodoble 'La Malagueta' played, she tempered the charge with elegance and ceremony.
The performance, serene and artistic, included a change of hand within a circular movement of immense beauty and a chest pass that thrilled the audience. The slightly low thrust did not prevent a resounding request. The ear had its own weight, without nostalgia or local ties, as agreed by the fans.
In the fourth, a serious bull but protested for its weakness, barely found material to build upon. Nevertheless, she closed with an ovation that acknowledged a trajectory of perseverance since her historic alternative in 1997, with milestones such as the grand entrance at the Monumental of Mexico. The lap of honour and her kiss to the sand were the true farewell.
The triumphant return of David Galán
David Galán took ownership of the afternoon both in terms of bullfighting and numbers. He received the second bull with a long change and continued with veronica passes and revolera. Before starting the performance, he dedicated it to the heavens: while the prayer call sounded, he remembered his father, Antonio José Galán, who has been absent for twenty-five years.
With 'Triguero', a bull that responded with bravery and transmission, Galán went to the centre and changed it behind his back. He lowered his hand and demanded it, intelligently tempering the pulse when the charge required it to be managed. From that combination of spirit and maturity, a deep performance was born, from the vibrant beginning to the final manoletinas. A prior pinch and the killing with the dagger cooled the outcome, but did not prevent an ear that certified a significant return eleven years after his last paseíllo in La Malagueta.
The fifth posed another battle with a bull of imposing presence. Galán again showed skill to impose himself and add his second ear, allowing him to be carried out on shoulders and celebrate his afternoon with the Málaga fans.
José Antonio Lavado, for his part, left his best moments in the sixth before creating the most unexpected image: symbolically cutting his hair, a gesture that surprised the audience and which he explained as a well-considered decision after his brief career.
The Málaga Fair continues this Monday with a new bullfight in La Malagueta, where a new turnout is expected. Fans can follow the bullfighting schedule on the official plaza website.
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