Rank-and-filer Kinbozan toppled Kirishima on Saturday, January 25 to move a step closer to winning his first Emperor's Cup at the New Year Basho.
After a prolonged stalemate at the center of the ring, Kirishima attempted a leg kick and followed by an arm throw but the man from Kazakhstan countered with a spectacular beltless arm throw of his own to send the Mongolian top maegashira sprawling.
No 14 maegashira Kinbozan improved to 12-2 while Kirishima saw his 10-bout winning streak come to an end while dropping to 10-4 and out of contention.
Hoshoryu Improves to 11-3 at the New Year Basho
In the day's final bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan, ozeki Hoshoryu stayed in the title chase when he got a double-handed grip on the belt of Takerufuji immediately after the face-off and bulldozed the rank-and-filer out to improve to 11-3.
Takerufuji, who won the March tournament in 2024, was simply overwhelmed by the ozeki and dropped to 10-4 and out of contention for the title.
Hoshoryu came into the tourney looking for promotion to grand champion. If he is able to win the tournament on the final day, that is still a possibility.
Oho Keeps Title Hopes Alive
No 3 maegashira Oho used a spectacular thrust-down technique at the edge to defeat Takanosho to improve to 11-3 and remain right in the thick of the title chase.
Oho, bidding for his first Emperor's Cup, was pushed back to the edge by the top maegashira but thrust his opponent down at the last minute to hand Takanosho his eighth loss.
Kinbozan will face Oho on the final day as he has already fought Hoshoryu, who beat Kinbozan on Day 12.
If Kinbozan beats his Day 15 opponent, he will wrap up his first top division title. A loss by Kinbozan on the final day would result in a two-way, or perhaps, three-way playoff.
Onosato, Daieisho Earn Victories
In other major bouts, Onosato overpowered struggling fellow ozeki Kotozakura to improve to 9-5.
It has been a disastrous tournament for Kotozakura, who came into the 15-day basho hoping to earn a record that would allow him to be promoted to grand champion.
Instead, he dropped to 5-9 on Saturday and will be a relegation-threatened ozeki at March's Spring Basho where he will need a winning record to maintain his ozeki status.
Sekiwake Daieisho used his trademark thrusting technique to send Hiradoumi backpedaling over the straw ridge to improve to 10-4. Fifth-ranked Hiradoumi fell to 6-8 and will finish the tournament with a losing record.
A day after wrapping up a winning record, Mongolian ironman Tamawashi improved to 9-5 when he used a frontal push-out to defeat rank-and-filer Nishikifuji, who dropped to 8-6.
No 10 maegashira Tamawashi turned 40 in November 2024 and has shown no sign of slowing down. He set the all-time consecutive match appearance record in his 1,631st consecutive bout on September 10 last year.
Shishi Holds Juryo Division Lead
In the second-tier juryo division, Ukrainian Shishi defeated No 13 Kotoeiho to stay in the sole lead at 12-2.
Fourth-ranked Shishi could wrap up the juryo division title on Sunday. Ryuden, Aonishiki and Nabatame are all one win off the pace.
RELATED:
- New Year Basho: Hoshoryu Keeps Title Hopes Alive with One-Sided Win over Sole Leader Kinbozan
- Kinbozan Comes Up Big with Clutch Win over Onosato to Stay in Lead at New Year Basho
- Abi Defeats Frontrunner Kinbozan as New Year Basho Remains Up for Grabs
Author: Jim Armstrong
The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for over 25 years. You can find his articles on SportsLook.
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