One of Spain's most famous bullfighters, José Antonio Morante de la Puebla, has just experienced one of the worst things that could happen while in the ring. While he didn't die, the 46-year-old did leave Seville's April fair with a perforated rectum.
© GettyJosé was in the middle of a comeback after stepping out of retirement on April 5 at Seville’s annual fair. There was a packed crowd with critics calling his performances some of the most memorable in years.
But then, on April 20, during a fight at the Maestranza, he was caught by a 512kg bull named Clandestino and lifted off his feet as the bull's horn drove into him.
The medical report made it clear just how serious it was. A 10-centimeter wound to the posterior area, damage to the sphincter muscles, and a perforated rectum. His injuries required an immediate 2-hour surgery and careful monitoring afterward.
Doctors described it as complex, noting that “it is a complex surgery because of the structures involved,” and that recovery would take time, and monitoring to assess how the wound evolves. He was put on strict measures post-surgery, including fasting and intravenous feeding, to reduce the risk of infection.
© Europa Press NewsMorante said from his hospital bed in Seville, “I had a rather rough night." “It’s the one that has hurt me the most,” he admitted. “I was in immense pain and also very afraid because I thought I was bleeding. I feared it might have reached my guts.” “When I got to the infirmary and saw the bleeding was slight, I relaxed, but it did hurt a great deal," the bullfighter shared. He's expected to stay for at least a week as doctors monitor for complications, and his return to the ring is uncertain.
© Europa Press NewsMorante is widely regarded as one of the greatest of his generation and someone who has never shied away from danger. His career has also been shaped by time away from the ring due to his mental health. He has spoken openly about severe depression and undergoing treatment, admitting at one point, “I have thought about death as a relief, but I can’t do it, I have a family and responsibility.”
Those struggles led to extended absences and ultimately his abrupt retirement in October 2025, following a performance at Las Ventas, where he symbolically cut off his ponytail, a gesture widely seen as marking the end of a career.
© Europa Press NewsHe's a high-profile supporter of Spain’s far-right Vox, and has openly aligned himself with the party, saying it “has provided hope not only for the world of bullfighting, but for everyone who depends on the customs of their country, the traditions, like hunting,” and maintains a close relationship with leader Santiago Abascal.
That matters because the ethics of bullfighting have become a much bigger conversation in Spain. Public opinion has shifted sharply, with around 77 percent of Spaniards now viewing the practice as “unacceptable."
According to PETA, in Spain, 84% of young people do not support bullfighting, and more than 125 cities have already imposed bans. With Morante being such an outspoken voice, the injury is a bit ironic.
