The event, held in the entrance courtyard of the "La Utielana" bullring, was attended by the Fair Queen, Marta Pérez, and her court of honor, the mayor of Utiel, Ricardo Gabaldón, the president of the Utielana Bullfighting Association, Paco Barberá, and the renowned bullfighter Enrique Ponce, grandnephew of the honoree, who sponsored the bust.
Mayor Ricardo Gabaldón highlighted the pride that Rafaelillo's figure represents for the people of Utiel, emphasizing his career as a bullfighting figure despite the era's difficulties and the legacy he has left, with Enrique Ponce as witness.
For his part, Enrique Ponce remarked on the qualities of his great-uncle, Rafael Ponce Navarro, as a bullfighter and a person, underlining his "great nobility and human quality". "It is an act of justice and on behalf of the entire family, we feel very grateful, happy, and proud for this tribute to our beloved 'Rafaelillo'", he stated.
Paco Barberá, president of the Bullfighting Association, reviewed Rafael Ponce's distinguished career in bullfighting, with over 200 events held in various countries and 14 bullfights in Utiel. To conclude the event, Barberá presented the association's insignia to Enrique Ponce in gratitude for his significant contribution to local bullfighting.
The sculpture, created by Valencian artist Raúl Hernández Bonaviña, immortalizes the bullfighter based on an image from 1935 and will be located in the Utielano Bullfighting Museum. With this event, Utiel honors one of the great figures of local bullfighting and highlights the tradition and culture linked to bullfighting in the municipality.
