Rank-And-Filer Takayasu Maintains Slim Lead With Win Over Hokutofuji

Former ozeki Takayasu maintained his one-win lead at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday, March 19 while three other contenders, including new ozeki Mitakeumi, all won their bouts to keep pace.

Seventh-ranked maegashira Takayasu, who is bidding for his first ever Emperor’s Cup, stayed undefeated and improved to 7-0 with a thrust-out win over Hokutofuji.

Takayasu was in control for the entire bout and dispatched the sixth-ranked maegashira, who dropped to 3-4.

The big question is: Can Takayasu maintain his composure over the second week of the 15-day basho at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium?

He’s been in this position before. A year ago at the March tourney, Takayasu went 9-1 to start the tournament but then faltered late with four losses in the last five days.

Takayasu’s road to the title got a little easier when grand champion Terunofuji pulled out of the tournament on Friday, announcing that he was withdrawing due to a sore left knee and right heel. He is expected to require one month to recover.

In other major bouts, Mitakeumi was all business when he hauled down Onosho at the center of the ring to pick up his sixth win against a lone loss.

Mitakeumi is fighting in his first tournament since being promoted to sumo’s second-highest rank and has looked sharp so far. Terunofuji’s withdrawal would appear to make him the odds-on favorite but there are several others who are looking like strong title contenders.

One of those wrestlers is Wakatakakage.

The new sekiwake continued his impressive Spring Basho campaign with a display of brute force when he used a rear-lifting body slam to defeat top maegashira Daieisho (4-2) and improve to 6-1.

Kotonowaka stays in title hunt

Sixth-ranked maegashira Kotonowaka also picked up his sixth win against one loss when he knocked No. 8 Sadanoumi (2-5) off balance at the face-off and then shoved him out from behind.

Ozeki Takakeisho won his fourth straight bout and is well on his way to securing a winning record when he used his trademark thrusts to defeat No. 2 maegashira Tamawashi (3-4) and improve to 5-2.

Shodai, who also needs a winning record in this tournament to maintain his ozeki status for the next basho, threw down third-ranked maegashira Meisei to pick up his second win against five losses. Meisei dropped to 1-6.

New sekiwake Abi dodged a bullet when he was pushed right back to the edge by Ura but somehow managed to throw down the top maegashira to escape defeat and improve to 5-2.

Osaka native Ura deserved better for a strong effort against the larger sekiwake but was handed his sixth loss against a lone win.

No. 9 maegashira Tobizaru lived up to his name of Flying Monkey when he jumped to his side at the face-off before hauling down Myogiryu to improve to 4-3. Veteran Myogiryu, a ninth-ranked maegashira, dropped to 3-4.

Further down the ranks, Wakamotoharu, the older brother of Wakatakakage, got a double-handed grip on the belt of Chiyoshoma (2-5) and marched the No. 8 maegashira out to pick up his fifth win against two losses.

Popular fourth-ranked maegashira Endo overpowered Takarafuji to move to 5-2. Struggling No. 5 maegashira Takarafuji lost his fifth straight bout to fall to 1-6.

In an all-Mongolian showdown, Kiribayama beat Ichinojo when he got a grip on the back of the belt and forced the 206-kilogram giant out over the edge.

Fourth-ranked maegashira Kiribayama picked up his fifth win against two losses. Ichinojo, a No. 2 maegashira, dropped to 4-3.

Mongolian Hoshoryu deployed a superb left-hand arm throw to upend fellow komusubi Takanosho (1-6) to pick up his fourth win against three losses. 

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

Author: Jim Armstrong