Mongolian ozeki Terunofuji outmuscled winless No. 2 maegashira Sadanofuji on Saturday to retain sole possession of the lead at the end of the first week of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.
After a brief exchange of thrusts, Terunofuji and Sadanofuji got locked in a mid-ring stalemate, but the ozeki broke it up and with a firm left-handed grip on Sadanofuji's belt, worked him over the bales to stay perfect at 7-0.
Terunofuji, who won his first title at the Summer Basho in May and earned promotion to ozeki, is one of the favorites to win the championship here in the absence of yokozuna Hakuho, who pulled out of the meet on Tuesday with a knee injury.