Yokozuna Terunofuji fell to his third straight defeat at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday as the highly touted Onosato and Takerufuji kept their perfect records to share the lead after six days.
Terunofuji (2-4) opened with a right-handed slap to the face of No. 3 maegashira Takanosho (2-4) but to little effect, and quickly found himself on the back foot at Edion Arena Osaka. The rank-and-filer swung the body of the grand champion before driving forward and Terunofuji had no strength to stay inside the ring.
Terunofuji won his ninth Emperor's Cup at January's New Year meet as he completed a 15-day meet for the first time since May. But the Mongolian-born yokozuna, who has long-standing knee issues as well as back pain, has been far from his best this month.
No. 5 maegashira Onosato received a strong opening charge from No. 2 maegashira Meisei (2-4) but was untroubled thanks to his superior physicality, and swiftly drove forward to push him out.
The 23-year-old talent from Ishikawa Prefecture went 11-4 as he made his top-tier makuuchi division debut in January.
No. 17 maegashira Takerufuji also continued his perfect start in his top-tier debut, bulldozing out No. 13 maegashira Churanoumi (3-3) in a flash following a powerful low drive.
The 24-year-old Aomori Prefecture native has shot up through the sport's ranks since his September 2022 debut and needed just one tournament to get out of the second-tier juryo division after winning the New Year meet with a 13-2 record.
Abi failed to make the most of his promising opening shoves as the komusubi suffered his first loss of the meet, against new ozeki Kotonowaka (4-2). Abi kept up the pressure after his initial attack was halted, but the momentum was gone and Kotonowaka thrust Abi down at the edge.
No. 12 maegashira Shonannoumi won his fifth straight bout to join Abi at 5-1.
Ozeki Hoshoryu (4-2) had his four-bout winning run snapped by No. 4 maegashira Tobizaru (3-3), who kept his firm right underarm belt hold and claimed a force-out win.
Demotion-threatened ozeki Takakeisho (4-2) had a one-sided push-out win over No. 4 maegashira Hiradoumi (3-3), taking a step closer to the eight wins he needs to stay in the second-highest rank.
Ozeki Kirishima (2-4) was handed his second straight win after No. 3 maegashira Oho (2-4) lost his footing while making a dodging move. Sekiwake Wakamotoharu (4-2) and Daieisho (3-3) both won.
Related coverage:
Sumo: Rank-and-file Oho hands Terunofuji 3rd defeat on Day 5
Sumo: Terunofuji falls to 2nd loss as Kirishima remains winless
Sumo: Wakamotoharu, Abi lead undefeated wrestlers in Osaka
