Sumo

Hoshoryu Stays 1 Win off the Lead After Overpowering Oho at New Year Basho

The Mongolian ozeki is bidding to earn promotion to sumo's top rank of yokozuna. He needs to win the New Year Basho or post a championship-caliber record.

by
Jim Armstrong
January 18, 2025

Mongolian Hoshoryu was all business on Saturday, January 18 when he defeated previously unbeaten Oho on Day 7 of the New Year Basho.

In Saturday's featured bout, ozeki Hoshoryu came bursting out of the face-off and overwhelmed the No 3 maegashira before shoving him out from behind to give both men a record of 6-1.

After the retirement of grand champion Terunofuji on Friday, all eyes are on whether Hoshoryu can replace his Mongolian compatriot at the top rank of yokozuna.

Hoshoryu needs to win the tournament or post a championship-caliber record to earn promotion and certainly looks up to the task as the 15-day basho approaches the midway point.

Chiyoshoma, Kinbozan Remain Tied for the Lead

Fifth-ranked maegashira Chiyoshoma stayed tied for the lead at 7-0 when he picked up a victory by default when his Day 7 opponent, eighth-ranked Roga, was forced to pull out due to injury.

Further down the ranks, Kinbozan of Kazakhstan kept his slate clean and improved to a perfect 7-0 when he used a frontal push-down to defeat fellow rank-and-filer Tokihayate.

Sumo's ironman, No 10 maegashira Tamawashi, slapped down No 12 Nishikigi to improve to an impressive 6-1. Nishikigi dropped to 4-3.

The 40-year-old Mongolian has won two championship titles in the elite division and has said he wants another. Just one win off the lead, he is well within range of that.

Takerufuji, a No 11 maegashira, also improved to 6-1 when he shoved out ninth-ranked Oshoma, who fell to 4-3.

Tobizaru Outduels Shodai in New Year Basho Showdown

Sumo's Flying Monkey Tobizaru continued his impressive New Year Basho when he spun former ozeki Shodai (2-5) around after the face-off and shoved the fourth-ranked maegashira out to move to 5-2.

Tobizaru has already beat two ozeki grapplers and then defeated Terunofuji on Day 4 in what was the final bout of the grand champion's career.

Ozeki Onosato got a right hand in on Atamifuji and drove the No 2 maegashira out to improve to 4-3. Atamifuji fell to 2-5.

Top maegashira Kirishima won his fourth straight bout when he used an arm bar throw at the edge to defeat komusubi Wakatakakage and raised his record to 4-3. Wakatakakage fell to 3-4.

Ozeki Kotozakura used a last-gasp arm throw at the edge to dispatch No 3 maegashira Gonoyama (4-3) to pick up just his second win of the basho.

After losing his first five bouts, top maegashira Takanosho won for the second straight day to move to 2-5 after he came in low at the face-off and drove out komusubi Abi, who dropped to 4-3.

In an all-sekiwake showdown, Daieisho sent Wakamotoharu (1-6) back to the edge with several arm thrusts and then shifted to his side and deployed a hand pull-down to pick up his fifth win against two losses.