Port Orchard’s Anthony Morse, in only 21 months of action, leads the USBF standings. COURTESY PHOTO,A Anthony Morse

Port Orchard’s Anthony Morse, in only 21 months of action, leads the USBF standings. COURTESY PHOTO,A Anthony Morse

Best bullfighters to fight for Kent Cup title

Port Orchard athlete to test his skills against BFO’s best at ShoWare

  • Wednesday, October 23, 2019 9:51am
  • Sports

Since bursting onto the freestyle bullfighting this summer, Anthony Morse has been a force to be reckoned with.

Now, he’s earned the opportunity to try and match talents against the world’s best at the accesso ShoWare Center during the BFO Kent Cup, set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26.

“From the time I started bullfighting, I’ve seen the BFO and looked up to it,” said Morse, 20, of nearby Port Orchard. “It is the biggest freestyle bullfighting there is. It’s the whole magnitude of it. It means a lot.”

It should. He has been dominating events on the United States Bullfighting tour, a BFO affiliate created to support the sport’s growth at a grassroots level. Now, he will face the top contestants in the BFO, freestyle bullfighting’s premier organization.

Morse sits No. 1 in the USBF standings, and thanks to its partnership with BFO, his points count for 20th place in the BFO Pendleton Whisky World Standings. Not bad for someone who started fighting just 21 months ago.

“I went to a (BFO) Development Camp last November (in Decatur, Texas), and that was really the start of it,” he said. “I reached out to a guy that takes bulls to some BFO events, and I got some calves from him. Now I have a herd to practice on.

“I’ll do anything I can to get myself in front of bulls.”

He rode bulls through much of his youth but, like many, his interest in riding faded. When the opportunity to step in as a relief bullfighter called, he quickly fell in love with the new thrill.

“I actually get bored with protection bullfighting now; I like doing the freestyle,” Morse said. “It’s you and the bull, and it’s head to head. You don’t have to worry about anybody else. Your sole job is just you and that bull. I love that.”

Morse has a confident personality and knows the reputation he’s getting. He won the BFO Wrangler Bullfight Tour stop in Kennewick, two months ago, and he’s stayed focused on the task at hand. From watching video clips to practicing on live cattle at home, Morse has his eyes on the prize.

The field of Kent Cup contestants is filled with the top contenders chasing the world championship: The No. 1 man in the world, Aaron Mercer; three-time BFO champion Weston Rutkowski; and other top superstars like Kris Furr and Beau Scheuth. They are jockeying for position heading into the year-end championships, set for Dec. 4-15 at the Tropicana Las Vegas.

“I’m excited to see what he’ll do,” said Andy North, the BFO’s barrelman. “You can be a hero at some of those smaller events, but these stand-alone bullfights separate the weak from the herd. When you have Weston Rutkowski, Aaron Mercer and Kris Furr and the lineup that’s going to be in Kent, I think he’s going to have to come with his A game.”

Morse has no qualms with that. He understands the game better than most newcomers.

“I never have a plan,” he said. “I can only do as much as the bull’s willing to give me. It’s just another bull and another bullfight.”

Some of that confidence can be attributed to his participation in BFO’s developmental system, an initiative that has continued to evolve since the platforms inaugural season in 2015.

“That’s the beauty of our sport and our Development Camps,” North said. “You can find these guys with hidden talent, and they can surprise you. These kids have to learn somewhere.

“If we want the sport to last and keep pushing forward, developing young bullfighters is important.”

North has been in this business for a long time – first as a competitor himself before he got in the barrel to help protect the bullfighters. His experience helped him learn to read the animals and put himself in the best position to make a save, which is why the athletes consider him the best.

“What I enjoy most is seeing the sport continue to grow,” he said. “It’s not just that it’s sustained, but it’s progressing. I’ve seen a bunch of bullfights and have watched how the sport has changed from making fundamental rounds with a bull to showing these acrobatic stunts. It’s turned into an art. When you see it done at a high level consistently, it’s hard to be part of anything different.

“I remember when if you won $1,500 at a bullfight, you were doing something. Now, a guy can win that by finishing fourth, and that’s because of the BFO. It’s a pretty lucrative event for these guys. The more stand-alone events like Kent that we have is just evidence that the sport is popular and continues to gain popularity.”

That’s just what young guns like Morse want to see. It offers a bright future. That’s why he appreciates his run through the D-Camps and USBF.

“I would recommend to anybody that’s starting to fight bulls to go to as many of those events as possible,” Morse said. “It gives you the chance to go against bulls that aren’t out to kill you. It’s such a perfect, awesome thing they do.

“It makes things so much better for us newer guys and gives us a good chance to figure out what we’re doing before we step out with the big dogs.”

Tickets may be purchased in advance at accessoshowarecenter.com or at the arena box office.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website http://kowloonland.com.hk/?big=submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Sports

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week: Kentwood

Dayna Vi (Jr.) wrestling and Brandon Tagle (Jr.) basketball take home this weeks awards.

Kentwood’s Jessica Ajayi dribbles the ball up the floor. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentwood girls basketball drops fourth straight

Team falls to Riverside for first time since 2017. Head Coach Jordan Nero: ‘We’ll find a way, we always do.’

t
Hundreds participate in Kent Christmas Rush run/walk

Seattle’s Nathan Morrisson wins 10K; Kent’s Travis Houser captures 5K

Graphic provided by KSD.
Kent Reporter Athlete of the Week: Kentridge

Genesis Miller (Flag Football) and Gio Moimoi (Basketball) take home this weeks award.

Veronica Garcia gives an interview after winning the 2A girls 400-meter final at the 2024 Washington State Championships at Mt. Tahoma High School in Tacoma. (Screenshot from Runnerspace.com video)
Proposals seek new rules for transgender athletes in WA schools

Other proposals target student-athlete transfer rules and girls flag football.

Tyanna Sims drives to the basket against Auburn in the loss. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Trojans sweep aside Kentwood in doubleheader

Both boys and girls basketball teams lose to Auburn in NPSL opening play.

Kentridge girls soccer surprised the three signees at Kentridge. Photo provided by @ETDPI on Instagram.
National Signing Day for Kentridge | Photos

Four Chargers offically signed to play college sports.

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Athlete of the Week for Nov. 22: Kentwood

Nick Greutman (tennis) and Rowan Parsons (swim and dive) take home this weeks honors.

Kentridge senior Sierra Wallace dribbles the ball against Woodinville. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge girls soccer falls 4-0 in state

Chargers make round of eight for second time ever and run into Woodinville buzzsaw.

Senior running back Antoine Lee avoids a Trojan defender early in the game against Auburn. Ben Ray / The Reporter
4A NPSL all-league football teams announced

Kentwood’s Antoine Lee named Offensive Player of the Year.

Photo provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week: Kentridge

Addison Stendera and Riley Tricas take home this weeks awards.

Makenna Bennett in action against Tahoma back on Oct. 22 at Kentridge. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge girls soccer advances to state

Chargers make state for second consecutive year, take on Wenatchee.