Ozeki Kisenosato pulled out the heavy artillery to beat yokozuna Harumafuji to remain spotless with his 12th consecutive win at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Thursday.
Hakuho was poetry in motion as he grilled ozeki Kakuryu and the pair continued on a collision course as the two remaining undefeated wrestlers with three days left at the Tokyo meet.
Kakuryu trails the coleaders with two losses while Harumafuji saw his hopes of a sixth career title shattered with his third defeat of the 15-day tournament.
Although Harumafuji held an overall lead of 26-16 in career bouts against the ozeki coming into Thursday's bout, the pair had been dead even going 3-3 in matchups in the past year.
The balance was tipped on this day when Kisenosato wasted no time getting his right arm under the diminutive yokozuna's armpit before shoving him like a rag doll off the dohyo surface at Ryogoku Kokugikan. It was Kisenosato's 15th straight win dating back to the Spring Basho in March.
Hakuho immediately got his right hand on Kakuryu's mawashi but switched hand positions midway when the ozeki refused to cooperate. After stepping back for a better look, the yokozuna reloaded to send the ozeki out with an ironclad forceout.
Hakuho will lock horns with ozeki Kotoshogiku on Friday and Kisenosato takes on Kakuryu.
Kotooshu (7-5) was leagues above fellow Bulgarian Aoiyama (5-7) as he went on a blitzkrieg to send his compatriot toppling over the edge and onto an unsuspecting Kisenosato, who momentarily appeared bothered by his own left elbow before making his way into the ring.
