As Joaquín Sabina might sing, Victorino and Escribano cross paths once again. And they do so in Alicante, for the Hogueras Fair — an event destined to be one of the highlights of the season. Alicante, Escribano and Victorino: three names with more in common than you might expect. Curious to know what binds them together?
It is the boldest feat of the Hogueras Fair — and rightly so. Manuel Escribano was the undisputed triumph of last year’s edition, carried out of the ring on the shoulders of an ecstatic crowd after the final bullfight of the fair. That success came at the hands of bulls from Victorino Martín, the same legendary breeder he’ll face alone in 2025.
But Escribano’s bond with this land runs much deeper. In this very ring, during the same fair, a bull of the same lineage — this time from Adolfo Martín — nearly cost him his life in 2016. Ironically, it happened just two months after Escribano had pardoned the now-famous “Cobradiezmos” in Seville’s Maestranza, following a performance that wasn’t just historic in his own career, but also for that arena and the Victorino Martín ranch itself.
As you can see, many threads tie Escribano to Victorino, and Escribano to Alicante. That’s why there’s no better setting for the upcoming challenge on Saturday, 28 June, when Escribano will face six bulls from the iconic ‘A with a crown’ iron — completely alone.
Escribano’s career has always been written in blood and fire. After showing early promise as a novillero, his 2004 alternativa (formal debut as a matador) seemed to push him to the sidelines. And there he remained — reflecting, refining — until 2013, when he was called to replace El Juli in a Miura bullfight in Seville. Nine long years of inner and outer transformation, shaping him as both man and matador, paid off handsomely.
His performance in Seville — which included cutting two ears from a fierce Miura bull — opened the gates to a new chapter. One filled with the kind of tough, less glamorous fights that test a torero’s grit. And Escribano thrived. He not only handled these bulls with composure and confidence, but when one offered even the slightest opportunity, he seized it — drawing long, low, masterful passes that showed both control and artistry.
Much of his style rests on an exceptional physical preparation, which he displays in every phase of the fight — from his versatility with the cape to his commanding presence when placing the banderillas. He is, without doubt, one of the most complete matadors on the circuit today. Even with the sword, he evokes the best: pure, focused and determined when delivering the killing blow.
In many ways, his concept harks back to the style of Francisco Rivera “Paquirri”. And Escribano arrives at this upcoming challenge with momentum, having been one of the standout names at the April Fair in Seville — where, fittingly, he cut two ears from yet another Victorino bull. The perfect omen to continue this powerful partnership.
Now, dear aficionado, you have the chance to witness what promises to be one of the most remarkable events of the season. The date is 28 June. The place: by the Mediterranean Sea. Don’t miss it.
The Maestranza gave in to Manuel Escribano. In an afternoon marked by the seriousness of the Victorino Martín bulls and by the commitment, the Sevillian performed a resounding bullfight with the fifth bull of the afternoon, ‘Mosquetón’, who received the prize of the vuelta al ruedo..
Make sure you get the best seat for the bullfighting fair of Las Hogueras de San Juan de Alicante. Servitoro is the official ticket office for bullfighting shows.
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