Francisco Rivera Pérez (Spanish: [fɾanˈθisko riˈβeɾa ˈpeɾeθ]; 5 March 1948 – 26 September 1984), better known as Paquirri (Spanish: [paˈkiri]), was a Spanish bullfighter. He died after being gored by a bull named Avispado at the Pozoblanco bullring. During his career, he was six times borne shoulder-high out through the Great Gate at Las Ventas.
Rivera was born to Agustina Pérez Núñez (Tarifa, 1922–1977) and the novillero (novice bullfighter who fights yearlings) Antonio Rivera Alvarado (born in Barbate, 17 February 1920; died in Cádiz, 10 November 2009), who was in charge of Barbate's municipal slaughterhouse, where Rivera and his brother José Rivera "Riverita", who also became a bullfighter, began their bullfighting. He grew up in Barbate within bullfighting milieux.
Those from whom he drew the most influence were Rafael Gómez Ortega "El Gallo" and Miguel Mateo Salcedo "Miguelín".
Rivera made his début as a novillero on 16 August 1962 in Barbate with livestock laid on by Núñez Polavieja.
On 28 June 1964, he made his début in a novillada with horses at the Cádiz bullring. He alternated with José González Copano and Rafael Jiménez Márquez, facing an encierro (set of bulls for a corrida, usually six) of beasts from the Marqués de Villamarta's herd.
In Seville on 1 May 1966, he cut three ears in one novillada, while sharing billing with Pepe Luis Segura and Manolo Sanlúcar. He was also borne shoulder-high out through the Prince's Gate at the Maestranza.
Rivera took his alternativa as matador de toros at the Plaza Monumental in Barcelona on 17 July 1966. Standing as "godfather" for this occasion was Antonio Bienvenida, while Andrés Vázquez bore witness. Bulls were supplied by the Juan Pedro Domecq ranch. The alternativa was not fulfilled, however, as the newly minted bullfighter was seriously gored in the right thigh during the bullfight.
The long awaited alternativa came on 11 August of the same year, after Rivera had healed somewhat, at the same bullring, but with Paco Camino yielding to Rivera the sword and muleta (as "godfather"), as Santiago Martín "El Viti" looked on (as witness). The bulls in the pens this time bore the Carlos Urquijo de Federico ranch's brand, and the bull that Rivera fought for his alternativa was Zambullido, weighing 513 kg. Rivera faced one other bull at this corrida, and although this beast presented the bullfighter with some difficulty by making it necessary for Rivera to take two passes before he managed the estocada (the sword thrust meant to kill the bull), he got applause from the crowd for his efforts that afternoon.
Only three days later, the very same bullring would be the scene of another of Rivera's appearances, this time with fellow matadors Antonio Borrero Morano "Chamaco" and Luis Segura, along with the rejoneador Ángel Peralta Pineda, with livestock furnished by María Lourdes Pérez Tabernero and Mercedes Pérez Tabernero.
Rivera had 19 further bullfighting engagements that season, but possibly the most important one for Rivera's career in the short term was the date at the Maestranza in Seville on 1 October 1966, at which he alternated with Jaime Ostos and "El Cordobés", for not only did he present himself as a matador at one of Spain's foremost bullrings, but the corrida also resulted in his cutting three "appendages" (meaning ears and/or tails) from bulls laid on by the Urquijo and Bohórquez ranches, a feat considered a resounding success in the bullfighting world.
On 18 May 1967, Rivera saw his alternativa confirmed at Las Ventas in Madrid. Standing once again as "godfather" was Paco Camino, and bearing witness this time was José Fuentes. The bull supplier for this occasion was once again the Juan Pedro Domecq ranch, and the bull that Rivera fought for his confirmation was Alelado, a red beast weighing 518 kg.
This engagement was significant for Rivera in another way: he had never trodden the albero (the finely crushed rock covering the bullfighting ground) at the capital's bullring as a novillero.
Las Ventas brought Rivera more bullfighting glory than it did most bullfighters, and over the years, he was borne shoulder-high out through the Great Gate six times, thrice in 1969 alone:
17 May 1969 — after leaving a bull from the Don Francisco Galache de Hernandinos ranch earless;
22 May 1969 — after cutting two ears from bulls from the Don Juan María Pérez-Tabernero Montalvo ranch;
12 June 1969 — after cutting two ears from bulls from the Don Lisardo Sánchez ranch;
21 May 1974 — after cutting three ears from bulls from the Don Anastasio Fernández Iglesias ranch;
24 May 1979 — after cutting three ears from bulls from the Torrestrella ranch;