Mongolian upstart Ichinojo saw his sensational start at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament come to a crashing halt on Saturday as yokozuna Hakuho and Kakuryu moved into a two-way lead heading into the second week of the 15-day basho in Tokyo.
Hakuho and Kakuryu both remained perfect at 7-0, while Ichinojo dropped out of the leading Mongolian trio to share second at 6-1 with ozeki Kisenosato and No. 15 maegashira Okinoumi.
Looking a good bet to move within one championship title of the all-time record of 32 held by legendary yokozuna Taiho, Hakuho was brutal in his dismissal of Toyonoshima, choking the second-ranked maegashira with a left-handed throat grip and finishing him off with a couple of powerful shoves. Toyonoshima has no wins, four losses and three rest days due to injury.