Mongolian ozeki Harumafuji defeated countryman and yokozuna Hakuho in an epic final bout to win the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday, virtually guaranteeing himself promotion to the sport's top rank of yokozuna.

Harumafuji has not only met the Japan Sumo Association's yokozuna promotion standard of back-to-back championships having triumphed in Nagoya in July, but he has done it in style with another spotless 15-0 record en route to his fourth overall title.

"Right now I am full of gratitude to my ancestors and my mother and father for giving me this strength," said the 28-year-old Harumafuji, whose real name is Davaanyam Byambadorj.