El Calita

Bullfighter Calita. Ernesto Javier Tapia

Bullfighter profile

• Full name: Ernesto Javier Tapia
• Ring name: Calita
• Date of birth: 24 October 1990
• Place of birth: Naucalpan, Mexico
• Bullfighting school: Seville Bullfighting School
• Alternative: 22 November 2009, Plaza México
• Sponsor: Manolo Mejía
• Witness: José María Manzanares
• Confirmation at Las Ventas: 9 July 2023

Biography

Calita is one of the Mexican bullfighters who has most intelligently built his career step by step, with a solid foundation both in the Americas and in Spain. Before taking the alternative, he had already stood out as a novillero without picadors, winning highly prestigious competitions such as the Zapato de Plata in Arnedo and the Promotion Cycle at La Maestranza — achievements that marked his early projection.

He took his alternative in 2009 at Plaza México and has since developed a long and consistent career, particularly intense in recent years. The 2021 season was key to his European path: he was the Mexican bullfighter with the highest number of appearances in Spain, with an emphatic balance of performances and trophies that confirmed his consistency and ability to succeed in arenas of very different profiles.

Among his most notable performances are decisive afternoons in venues such as Cinco Casas, Villalpardo, Villamalea and Villarejo de Salvanés, where he delivered complete faenas that earned him shoulder-borne exits and the cutting of ears and tails. In the Americas, his seasons have also been steady, with victories in top-tier arenas such as Guadalajara, Aguascalientes and Mérida, maintaining a high number of appearances and trophies each year.

Special mention must be made of his confirmation of alternative at Las Ventas in 2023 — an afternoon in which he showed seriousness and composure against bulls from Román Sorando, earning a lap of honour after a petition and leaving a very positive impression among Madrid’s aficionados.

Bullfighting vocation

Calita’s story is one of an early vocation, shaped by sacrifice and discipline. His decision to train in Seville was no coincidence: from a young age, he sought to absorb the classical concept of bullfighting, refining his technique and artistic depth in an environment of maximum demand.

Those who know him highlight his adaptability and professional mindset. He is not a bullfighter of fleeting flashes, but of long-term development, built on consistency and quiet hard work. A lesser-known curiosity is his strong bond with Spain, a country where he has spent long periods training and where he has forged much of his maturity as a matador.

Buy your tickets to see Calita with Servitoro

If you want to see Calita live and follow all his upcoming appearances, you can check his updated calendar and purchase your tickets securely through Servitoro.

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A perfect opportunity to enjoy the serious and committed bullfighting of one of the most promising Mexican names on today’s circuit.