Unbeaten yokozuna Hakuho condemned promotion-chasing sekiwake Baruto to his first defeat Wednesday to grab sole possession of the lead with four days left at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
Baruto fought back bravely after being worked to the edge of the ring in the day's featured bout at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, but Hakuho proved an immovable object and showed his championship pedigree by dumping the Estonian giant into the ringside cushions.
Victory eases some of the pressure on Hakuho, who is widely expected to ease his way to a 13th Emperor's Cup in the absence of former yokozuna Asashoryu, who recently retired amid allegations he attacked a man outside a Tokyo nightspot in a drunken rampage in January.
Despite the defeat, Baruto, who sits alone in second place at 10-1, could still earn promotion to ozeki if he wins at least three of his remaining four bouts.