Yokozuna Asashoryu stayed on course for a 12th Emperor's Cup after mugging Iwakiyama on Tuesday to preserve his unbeaten record with a 10th win heading into the final stretch of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.
Asashoryu got a fright as Iwakiyama came out with all guns blazing in the day's finale at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan but the furious-looking Mongolian hard nut kept his cool and after hoisting him toward the edge of the ring bumped him out to an eighth loss.
Chiyotaikai, who secured his ozeki status on Monday, seems to have regained the form that he had been lacking in recent tournaments and unleashed a torrent of slaps and neck thrusts to see off fourth-ranked Kaiho (2-8).
Ninth-ranked Kyokushuzan barely broke sweat in his bout with Takekaze (7-3) and needed only a pair of shoves to send the 15th-ranked wrestler out for a quick-fire ninth win.
Injury weary ozeki Tochiazuma emerged victorious with a crafty win in his 33rd meeting with Tosanoumi (3-7).
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