Luis Ruiz Gutierrez
San Millán de la Cogolla (La Rioja), (EFE).- The Mexican right-hander Leo Valadez has assured EFE that his head “is already thinking about the afternoon of San Isidro”, where it is announced for May 21 with the confinement of Fuente Ymbro, because “Las Ventas is the most important square in the world” and many festivities later on “depend” on what you do that afternoon.
The bullfighter from Aguascalientes (Mexico) has received at the Yuso Monastery, in San Millán de la Cogolla (La Rioja), the award given to him by the bullfighting club ‘El Quite’ from Logroño.
Valadez was awarded for the removal carried out on September 20 at the last fair in San Mateo de Logroño, to the first bull of his batch, a Zalduendo specimen to which he made “a chicuelina linked with a espaldina, continued with another chicuelina linked to a Cordoba”, according to the jury’s decision.
The Mexican right-hander has considered having started the season last weekend in Olivenza (Badajoz) “very positive”, because it is one of the first fairs and, also, because it is a cycle in which all bullfighters “want to be” for be a “pretty showcase”.
While he is recovering from a fracture in the fingers of his right hand, caused by the defeat of one of the two ‘Victorinos’ at the Olivenza celebration, he has acknowledged that he is “desiring” to be able to continue facing that iron, considering that this Livestock brings “class to those who put themselves in front”, something that they take very much into account, “both professionals and amateurs”.
Although he has practically not stopped having performances in the season in America with important wins, he has stated that the one that now begins in Europe differs from that of 2022, “to see things differently.”
Season 2023 and Sales
“Last year everything was new for me -he explained- since I practically appeared in all the squares where I intervened. I consider the result positive, but, as is logical, this year I am going with the same ambition and desire”.
In relation to his next celebration in Las Ventas, he has stressed that many bullfighters focus their “hopes” on this bullring, for which he has trusted that the task of May 21 “will leave later.”
“Last year I only had my confirmation closed at Las Ventas. Afterwards, the panorama opened up in a very positive way and then afternoons arrived where I showed the bullfighter that I long to be ”, he detailed.
On whether the bullrings in southern Spain are his pending issue, the Mexican has stated that he would love to fight in that area, because last year Madrid was the furthest south that he fought.
“If it has to be like this, we will have to accept it, but my wish is that little by little more places will open up for me. The Maestranza will always be there. My purpose is to make merits to be able to start the little walk in it soon ”, he confided.
Works in La Rioja
In a review of his professional career, Valadez has made it clear that it was “transcendental” to achieve the long-awaited Golden Shoe in Arnedo (La Rioja) in 2016, an award that he considers the “most important” of the novilleril ranks.
In addition, he has pointed out that he was the first Mexican to have achieved this award, which makes it “even more remarkable.”
Despite having cut ears in many squares, he has assured that Arnedo is something “very special” for him and for his closest people.
Regarding a task that he remembers above all others, he highlighted the one he performed in the French town of Istres last season on a Victoriano del Río bull, whose tail was cut off.
“It is one of those days when it seems that everything arises as you feel at that moment,” he recalled.
Regarding the bullfight in Logroño in which he won the award he received in San Millán de la Cogolla, Leo did not want to enter into the discussion if he should have cut off a second ear that would have led him to open the big door.
“The president chose not to grant me the second ear but I’d prefer to see the public delivered and I still remember the happy faces of the fans as he went around the ring”, he concluded.