‘Cyclops of Jerez’ takes to the bullring in Colombia

Bullfighters from across the Spanish-speaking world took to the ring for a gory celebration of the 60th Cali Fair in Colombia yesterday.

Considered the biggest festival of its kind in the Americas, the bloody display – which is part of a five-day end-of-year celebration in the western city – attracted many big-name matadors.

Among them was one-eyed Spaniard Juan Jose Padilla, known as the ‘Cyclops of Jerez’ or ‘The Pirate’ after losing his left eye and nearly dying in a 2011 goring in Zaragoza. 

Full of bravado, and wearing his menacing eye-patch, Padilla stared down his bull during the gruesome fighting at the Plaza de Toros Cañaveralejo as close to 17,000 bloodthirsty spectators cheered him on.

Young Venezuelan star Jesus Enrique Colombo also performed, at one point showing off his agility with a lingering dive before stabbing a bull with banderillas.

But one performer, Colombian Sebastian Ritter, got himself into a perilous position as a bull rammed its horns into the ground just inches from his skull.     

Among the fighters yesterday was one-eyed Spaniard Juan Jose Padilla (pictured), known as the ‘Cyclops of Jerez’ or ‘The Pirate’ after losing his left eye after nearly dying in a 2011 goring in Zaragoza. Full of bravado, with his menacing eye-patch, Padilla stared down his bull during yesterday’s fighting at the Plaza de Toros Cañaveralejo as close to 17,000 spectators cheered him on

 But one performer, Colombian Sebastian Ritter, got himself into a perilous position as a bull rammed its horns into the ground just inches from his skull (pictured). The fighter was later seen getting the best of his bull, but not before the terrifying moment captured above 

 But one performer, Colombian Sebastian Ritter, got himself into a perilous position as a bull rammed its horns into the ground just inches from his skull (pictured). The fighter was later seen getting the best of his bull, but not before the terrifying moment captured above 

Known as the finest festival of its kind in the Americas, the world-famous display - which is part of a five-day end-of-year celebration in the western city - has attracted many big-name matadors. Pictured: Padilla, who was savagely gored by a bull in 2011 and has since been given a hero's welcome across the world 

Known as the finest festival of its kind in the Americas, the world-famous display – which is part of a five-day end-of-year celebration in the western city – has attracted many big-name matadors. Pictured: Padilla, who was savagely gored by a bull in 2011 and has since been given a hero’s welcome across the world 

Young Venezuelan star Jesus Enrique Colombo (pictured) also performed, at one point showing off his agility with a lingering dive before sticking his bull with banderillas

Young Venezuelan star Jesus Enrique Colombo (pictured) also performed, at one point showing off his agility with a lingering dive before sticking his bull with banderillas

Padilla stares down his opponent at the Plaza de Toros Cañaveralejo in Cali, Colombia as the world-famous Cali Fair kicks off with a bang this year 

Padilla stares down his opponent at the Plaza de Toros Cañaveralejo in Cali, Colombia as the world-famous Cali Fair kicks off with a bang this year 

Padilla nearly died when he was fighting a bull in Northern Spain six years ago. A horn penetrated his skill, causing him to lose hearing in his right ear and sight in his left eye, as well as multiple fractures in his jaw and skull. He also suffered facial paralysis

Padilla nearly died when he was fighting a bull in Northern Spain six years ago. A horn penetrated his skill, causing him to lose hearing in his right ear and sight in his left eye, as well as multiple fractures in his jaw and skull. He also suffered facial paralysis

Colombian bullfighter Sebastian Ritter on his feet against a bull in Cali yesterday. The contest is one of the most famous in the Spanish-speaking world 

Colombian bullfighter Sebastian Ritter on his feet against a bull in Cali yesterday. The contest is one of the most famous in the Spanish-speaking world 

Much-loved Padilla touches his hat as he looks on while performing in the ring. He is known as both the 'Cyclops of Jerez', the city in which he was born, and 'The Pirate'. Both nicknames relate to his eye-patch

Much-loved Padilla touches his hat as he looks on while performing in the ring. He is known as both the ‘Cyclops of Jerez’, the city in which he was born, and ‘The Pirate’. Both nicknames relate to his eye-patch

The 44-year-old bullfighting star has been in the ring since a young age, and has been a matador de toros since the age of 21 

The 44-year-old bullfighting star has been in the ring since a young age, and has been a matador de toros since the age of 21 

Venezuelan bullfighter Jesus Enrique Colombo gets close to a bull in the Plaza de Toros Cañaveralejo in Cali, Colombia yesterday 

Venezuelan bullfighter Jesus Enrique Colombo gets close to a bull in the Plaza de Toros Cañaveralejo in Cali, Colombia yesterday 

Colombian bullfighter Sebastian Ritter stabs his bull during the Cali Fair 2017 show - but it was not long before he ended up on the ground 

Colombian bullfighter Sebastian Ritter stabs his bull during the Cali Fair 2017 show – but it was not long before he ended up on the ground 

Ritter made a lucky escape after his bull decked him and impaled the ground near his skull with its horns 

Ritter made a lucky escape after his bull decked him and impaled the ground near his skull with its horns 

Ritter being struck by the bull in front of the near-17,000 crowd in Cali. The city's fair also includes a salsa marathon, horse riding parades and plenty of dance parties

Ritter being struck by the bull in front of the near-17,000 crowd in Cali. The city’s fair also includes a salsa marathon, horse riding parades and plenty of dance parties

Padilla closes in on his bull during the performance in Cali yesterday. He has been gored many times since his near-fatal encounter in 2011 

Padilla closes in on his bull during the performance in Cali yesterday. He has been gored many times since his near-fatal encounter in 2011 



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