Ozeki Takayasu may have finished without a title, but he finished the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in style with a win over yokozuna Kakuryu on Sunday.
Takayasu and Kakuryu were forced to refight the tournament's final bout on the 15th and final day at Edion Arena Osaka, where judges were unable to decide a winner in their first try. In the second try, Takayasu was too fast for the grand champion and easily forced him out. Takayasu has now won 12 bouts in consecutive tournaments.
Kakuryu, who clinched his fourth career championship on Saturday, finished with a 13-2 mark to put a horrible 2017 behind him. Last year, the Mongolian went the distance in only one tournament, but went 11-4 in January, when he was slowed by injury. He also came into this tournament after a last-minute decision to compete despite pain in the fingers of his right hand.