Grand Champion Terunofuji Bounces Back From Day 2 Loss to Defeat Ura

Lone grand champion Terunofuji bounced back from an upset loss to Daieisho to defeat Ura on Tuesday, March 15, while newly promoted ozeki Mitakeumi stayed tied for the lead on the third day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.

In the day’s final bout at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Terunofuji, who lost to Daieisho on Day 2, went on the attack at the face-off but was shoved back to the edge by top maegashira Ura.

Terunofuji recovered just in time to shove Ura out, but it was a little too close for comfort as both wrestlers appeared to step out of the ring at the same time.

The referee initially ruled in favor of Ura but the ringside judges got together to talk things over and correctly ruled that Ura’s heel touched the dirt surface before Terunofuji’s foot stepped out.

Terunofuji improved to 2-1 while Ura dropped to 0-3.

Terunofuji is looking to redeem himself after losing out on the championship in the New Year tourney, which was won by Mitakeumi. 

A second straight loss wouldn’t have dashed Terunofuji’s chances by any means but could have started rumors that he is fighting injured. He faltered over the last week of the New Year Basho when he was reportedly competing with a sore heel.

Crowded at the Top

A group of six wrestlers share the early lead at 3-0.

Mitakeumi is among that group after he fought off a series of powerful arm thrusts by Daieisho and swatted the top maegashira down to remain perfect.

Daieisho had beaten Terunofuji and Shodai in his previous two bouts but could not pull off another huge upset and dropped to 2-1.

Mitakeumi has looked solid in his debut at sumo’s second-highest rank and has yet to be seriously challenged.

He will face komusubi Takanosho on Day 4. Takanosho lost to No. 2 maegashira Tamawashi (1-2) in an earlier bout to fall to 1-2.

In other major bouts, new komusubi Hoshoryu picked up his first win when he pulled off a spectacular arm throw at the edge to hand ozeki Takakeisho his second straight loss of the tournament.

“I got the right hand in under where I wanted to and am very happy to get my first win at this rank,” Hoshoryu said. “I’ve just got to focus on my sumo going forward."

Takakeisho, who likes to rely on pushing and thrusting, did force Hoshoryu back at the face-off but couldn’t finish off his opponent when it mattered most.

Demotion-threatened Takakeisho needs to post a winning record in this tournament so he can’t afford too many losses in the first half of the 15-day meet.

It was another rough day for struggling ozeki Shodai, who had a decent face-off against Mongolian giant Ichinojo but was shoved out and over the edge to remain winless.

Like Takakeisho, Shodai needs a winning record to maintain his ozeki status for the next tournament, but things aren’t looking good so far.

No. 2 maegashira Ichinojo, who beat ozeki Takakeisho the previous day, improved to 2-1 with the one-sided win.

Wakatakakage got a double inside grip on the belt of Meisei and waltzed the third-ranked maegashira out to stay undefeated at 3-0.

Wakatakakage has looked impressive in his sekiwake debut and took advantage of a superior face-off to send Meisei to his second loss against a lone win.

Strong Performance by Abi

Newly promoted sekiwake Abi used several powerful arm thrusts to the neck and head to send No. 4 maegashira Kiribayama (2-1) backpedaling out and over the straw ridge.

Abi lost his opening-day bout but has looked powerful since and improved to 2-1.

Seventh-ranked maegashira Takayasu remained tied for the lead at 3-0 when he took advantage of a strong face-off and thrust eighth-ranked Chiyoshoma (2-1) out in a matter of seconds.

Sixth-ranked maegashira Kotonowaka also improved to 3-0 when he got a grip on the belt of Ishiura, lifted him up off the dohyo before setting him back down and shoving him out. 

No. 5 Ishiura (1-2) fell awkwardly off the raised ring and needed several minutes before being helped up. He later complained of pain in his neck.

Terutsuyoshi gave the fans a thrill when he used a superb underarm throw to topple the much larger Chiyotairyu at the edge of the ring.

Eleventh-ranked maegashira Terutsuyoshi improved to 2-1 while No. 12 Chiyotairyu fell to 1-2.

In earlier bouts, rank-and-filers Nishikigi and Yutakayama remained perfect at 3-0.

Follow Jim’s daily reports on the sumo Spring Basho here.

Author: Jim Armstrong