Ozeki aspirant Tochinoshin improved to 8-0 on Sunday as the 15-day Summer Grand Sumo Tournament reached its midpoint.
The Georgian, who could be promoted to the rank of ozeki with 10 wins here, won a battle of muscle over mass to hang onto his sole lead ahead of the Mongolian yokozuna duo of Hakuho and Kakuryu. No. 11 maegashira Chiyonokuni was also a win back after eight days at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Tochinoshin moved a mountain to earn his eighth win, holding off fellow sekiwake Ichinojo after starting off on the back foot against the 225-kg Mongolian. Surrendering an underarm belt hold at the start, Tochinoshin dug in and stalled his opponent's progress at mid-ring.