Oratoria

ELOY CAVAZOS
Birth
August 25, 1949, Ciudad Guadalupe, Nuevo León, México.

Personal Information
Resides in Guadalupe, Nuevo León, a suburb of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon México. Eloy Cavazos is respected as one of Mexico's top matadors, and has been such for decades.

Debut
Debut in Plaza México:
He debuted in Plaza México on July 12, 1966, with Gonzalo Iturbe and Leonardo Manzanos.
He tookhis alternative in Plaza Monterrey, Nuevo León, México, on August 28, 1966. His Padrino was Antonio Velázquez. His Testigo was Manolo Martinez. His first bull was named "Cariñoso", from the ranch of San Miguel Mimiahuapam.
He took his confirmation in Plaza México, on January 14, 1968. His Padrino was Alfredo Leal. His Testigo was Jaime Rangel. Bulls were from the ranch of Jesús Cabrera.
He tookhis confirmación in Madrid, Spain, on May 22, 1971. HIs Padrino was Miguel Mateo "Miguelín". His Testigo was Gabriel de la Casa. Bulls were from the ranch of José Luis Osborne.

Personal
Unlike some matadors who are well known for their hard partying lifestyle, Eloy Cavazos is known and respected for his professionalism and a disciplined lifestyle that he has maintained throughout his career.This pattern was evident from his beginnings with his late mentor, the Matador Jaime Bravo, who would make sure that Eloy did not drink, went to bed early, and woke up early to train.
After 44 Years, Eloy Cavazos to Retire, Again
While the other matadores maintained solemn expressions during their formal parade into the plaza, Eloy Cavazos, the 5'-2" “Little Giant,” sauntered along as if he wereon his way to pick up his best girl for the junior prom.
As he would throw back his head, smile, flash his dimples, and challenge 1,000 pounds of brave bull, the crowds went wild. Men envied him; women wanted to mother him; and young girls screamed at the apparent David & Goliath confrontation that was developing on the sand.
But, when he raised the sword, a hush would overcome the entire plaza.Eloy would literally throw himself over the horns, usually delivering a perfect estocada. In spite of his elfin stature, he was one of the finest swordsmen in the world.
Later, during his triumphant turn of the ring, the aficionados would smother him in flowers, wineskins, and an occasional baby bottle. His ebullient personality, flashing dimples, and legendary courage made him one of the mostpopular toreros of the Mexican scene from the late-1960s through the new millennium. Eloy’s charismatic presence engulfed the plazas de toros.
He was born in Monterrey, Mexico, Aug. 25, 1950. From the beginning, bullfighting was the dominant factor in his life. His father was the live-in guard at Plaza de Guadalupe, the home town bullring. Thus, Eloy was constantly surrounded by toreros. But, hewas always so short, most people discouraged him from even thinking about being a torero. Eloy, however, knew that he could do it.
When he was only 14, he appeared in more than 100 novilladas. On one afternoon, he fought two bulls, in each of three different plazas de toros. At the end of the day, he commented, “I’m hungry.”
And, in Monterrey, they loved him so much, they re-named one of theirbullrings, “Plaza Eloy Cavazos.”
In 1984, following one of the most successful careers in Mexican bullfight history, Eloy Cavazos announced that he would fight one more year, then retire to his ranch, his family, and his various investments. The bulls had made him wealthy, but it was time to call it quits.
When matadores of the importance of Cavazos retire, they work a final corrida in each of themajor plazas de toros in which they have performed, finishing in Mexico City and sometimes a last corrida in the torero’s home town. Such is especially true of matadores from Monterrey, the cradle of Mexican bullfighting.
Eloy’s retirement campaign brought tears to the eyes of the aficionados, including those few journalists who, through the years, had been critical of Cavazos for relying more...