Lone ozeki Takakeisho bounced back from his first defeat of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament by winning a bruising encounter with top-ranked maegashira Daieisho on Tuesday.
Having lost the previous day to the other No. 1 maegashira, Tobizaru, Takakeisho improved to 2-1 by thrusting out former sekiwake Daieisho (2-1) after the pair traded fierce blows back and forth across the ring.
Sekiwake Hoshoryu remains the only unbeaten wrestler in the three elite sanyaku ranks below yokozuna after just three days of competition at Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo arena.
The rising star from Mongolia handed No. 2 Mitakeumi his first loss, stopping the former ozeki at the edge and driving him all the way across the ring for a victory by force out.
Sekiwake Shodai earned the first of 10 wins required for automatic promotion back to ozeki by pushing out new komusubi Kotonowaka, who is still looking for his maiden victory at sanyaku.
Takayasu, fighting as a sekiwake after finishing runner-up alongside Takakeisho in November, fell to 0-3 after being pushed out by No. 2 Tamawashi (3-0).
Sekiwake Wakatakakage improved to 2-1 via a rear push out against Tobizaru (1-2), while No. 3 Abi, who claimed his first Emperor's Cup in November, stayed unbeaten by pushing out winless komusubi Meisei.
Sole yokozuna Terunofuji is sitting out the 15-day meet in hope of making a full recovery from surgery to both knees.