Yokozuna Takanohana knocked a pugnacious Asashoryu down a peg with a beautifully executed belt throw Wednesday, handing the newly promoted Mongolian ozeki his second loss in a raucous showdown at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.
In the day's penultimate bout, Asashoryu fired off a flurry of hard slaps at the head and chest of Takanohana in a serious effort to jolt the grand champion off balance at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Asashoryu even tried a crafty leg sweep after inflicting more damage at mid-ring, but the yokozuna stood firm as he switched the tables and flipped the Takasago stable ozeki with a one-armed belt technique as the crowd roared with thunderous applause.