HAKUHO vs TERUNOFUJI for 45th Championship!

In the grand finale, the brawl to end it all, the match billed as "The bout of the last quarter century" - Yokozuna HAKUHO defeated Ozeki TERUNOFUJI and finished the July Grand Sumo Tournament at 15-0, a perfect score and his 45TH CHAMPIONSHIP - unprecedented in the modern day sports era and perhaps in any era!
The bout was televised to 380 million homes in 161 countries. Both undefeated titans spent a good amount of time staring daggers at each other prior to the tachiai (initial charge). This turned into HAKUHO’s match the moment TERUNOFUJI reacted to HAKUHO’s attacks - and that little celebration at the end? It has sumo fans around the world talking. It's a bit uncharacteristic for a Yokozuna, but given all that HAKUHO has been through, maybe understandable.
HAKUHO is literally peerless in the world of sumo, and possibly in the world of individual athletic competition. 45 CHAMPIONSHIPS, WOW! Bill Russell's 11 rings, Tom Brady's 7, and Michael Jordan's 6 don't even come close. Rocky Marciano's unblemished 49-0 record as boxing's Heavyweight champion comes to mind, but HAKUHO once won 63 consecutive bouts. Incredible!
The July tournament marks 14 years since his first appearance as a Yokozuna (Grand Champion). He has out lasted all of his contemporaries (HARUMAFUJI, KAKURYU, KISENOSATO). He endured orthopedic surgery 4 months ago that would have left most people hobbling for a year, and came back and beat everyone he faced.
True sports LEGENDS are rare, so if they appear in our lifetime we should consider ourselves privileged to have witnessed their amazing accomplishments.
See you in September. Arigato HAKUHO SHO and SAYONARA!🤙

[@jasonsmith7518]

To go 15 - 0 in his retirement Basho is a testament to Hakuho's dominance as a Yokozuna. It has been a privilege to watch Hakuho win 45 Sumo Grand Championships. What a legend!

[@frodolives6021]

I just got into sumo and this guy is beaaaast!

[@JorgeLourenco000]

Already 3 years? Jesus.

[@jaimemunoz8513]

this showdown cemented Hakuho as the greatest Yokozuna imo without a doubt. He didn't let Teru stare him down like that and get away with it. Well deserved win!

[@tedbrown2695]

I wish I started watching sumo a few years earlier. I missed the Hakuho era..

[@Srobvio85]

same, But I got at least 5 years at least

[@sumee8368]

and you missed asashoryu's whole era

[@karodoshia9645]

i started watching in 2019 but it's still not great, most tournaments he didnt even participate in

[@PhillipCalvin627]

Two years ago or not, this was probably the hardest I've ever cheered for any Sumo match. Hakuho is the greatest and I am privileged to have seen him crush literally everybody. That stare down had to be the fiercest ever. Asashoryu, Chiyonofuji, Kitanoumi, Wajima and Hakuho has to be the short list of guys I would not want to look across at on the Dohyo.

[@NonceKillaz]

There will never be another like hakuho

[@uiato]

This moment was the pinnacle of the sport. The greatest yokozuna's last dance, the ozeki soon to be promoted yokozuna, the score, the staredown, the tension!

[@monk3ymasta]

I remember watching this live, it was so exhilarating to experience this as a piece of living history, all of us were aware that Hakuho was a wounded warrior, and his back was up against the wall. But he was always a master of the mind game, and took Teru exactly as he wanted to. His exuberant celebration can be forgiven, if only because he faced adversity throughout his whole career as an (Mongolian) outsider, and had to prove himself every step across the dojo. A true living legend, I doubt we will see a warrior of his like again in my generation. 🙌

[@hunterdunning1776]

Only because of this channel did I ever know this was happening. This guy talking? He is why I love sumo, and made me care about watching this as live as I could.

[@SIMONP1965]

Hakuho was a Beast

[@sigmanbyrd3020]

Still the most exciting match I’ve ever seen.

[@jaw847]

Terunofuji was in good health finally and on a roll the entire year of 2021, probably his best year ever. So, This was a true battle of Titans. And a storybook ending for Hakuho. Really wonder how many more bashos Terunofuji could of won if he was healthy more often. Maybe another 10 or so at least

[@Life2447]

since this match, sumo was never the same.

[@stugabe33]

Hopefully newcomers like young superstar ONOSATO will change your mind. As for me, I've been a fan since the 1960s.

[@cabletelcontar5440]

My first Basho was Onosato winning in May. Been a fan both of the sport and Onosato since then.

[@jommarjo9015]

why do I feel happy and sad at the same time....I feel happy that GOAT won and Teru will be Yokozuna...but sad because Hakuhos message was clear...GOAT was nearing retirement

[@richardsebastian2089]

It might be his last year but he is already a GOAT #1 SUMO WRESTLER ALL TIME. 2tournament to compete if possible

[@RadicalCaveman]

That was a really great fight... a dogfight between two titans. That arm lock was too much in the end. Salute to both!

[@royaumeuni5730]

I remember first time I saw Hakuho in the top division. I immediately felt, this is the best ever.

[@popcornfps]

I started watching sumo because of this guy

[@عالممختلف-ب9م]

The goat 🏆

[@andrewkensington7403]

I know he got in trouble for his shout and celebration but I love it. It shows how much effort he put in to being the best!

[@briankady1456]

I feel like he wanted to go out on his own terms, and to hell with the JSA.

[@wahyudikho615]

wow.. perfect wins 15 - 0.. what a record..

[@MinusTheRogue]

Little fact about Teru: up to this point he had never gotten 14 or more wins in a basho before and has gotten there only twice since. He became yokozuna right after this basho.

[@jamiedildine1785]

This was the first Basho that I watched.

[@mhakes-to5vw]

I'm never going to forget the built up anticipation before the start of this match. The immense stare down made the tension palpable. I found myself in a crouched position off the edge of my couch with my fists clenched the whole match. Definitely my favorite bout of all time.

[@Тимур-о9щ1х]

Монгольские борцы завоевали сумо!!

[@pleiadecca]

That is one hell of a great Yokozuna right there. Love him, he will indeed be legendary, but Chiyonofuji will always be my personal favorite.

[@stugabe33]

@@pleiadecca Mine too!

[@elderrmrz1279]

Japanese sumo association really don’t like foreign wrestlers

[@nihleigleca6702]

I miss the Hakuho era 😢

[@putalaweaweonoh]

Hakuho was more than Messi+C.Ronaldo+Ronaldo+Ronaldinho and all of the top 50 football players of all time combined. The GOAT of GOATs, how many records did he brake?

[@stugabe33]

On 4 December 2021 Hakuhō was recognized by Guinness World Records for the following records: -Most top division championships: 45 -Most career wins: 1187 -Most top division wins: 1093 -Most undefeated championships: 16 -Most tournaments ranked as yokozuna: 84 Hakuhō also holds a number of other records, such as most wins as yokozuna (899), most consecutive wins in the 6 tournaments per year era (63, absolute record is 69) and most wins in a calendar year (86, achieved twice). In October 2022 he set the Guinness World Record for creating 104 tegata hand prints in one minute.

[@willyhwang1059]

wish for a dream match terunofuji and asashoryu in their primes

[@SGabe32]

Wow! That forearm smash to Teru's face in slow mo was FIERCE! 3:31 And those face slaps - how insulting. Hakuho! 👊LEGEND 👏👏👏

[@elderrmrz1279]

Shodai became a different rikishi after the slaps

[@stugabe33]

@@elderrmrz1279 I agree but I think you mean TERUNOFUJI.

[@elderrmrz1279]

@@stugabe33 I know who shodai is and I know who is a Yokozuna

[@stugabe33]

@@elderrmrz1279 🤣

[@elderrmrz1279]

@@stugabe33 I know what shodai became,it’s not funny because he lost his fight spirit

[@briankady1456]

One of the best bouts in sumo...and a month later Terunofuji was promoted to Yokozuna

[@SoloDamon]

The best ever

[@plavyn]

That is the way to leave a sports

[@ZozoVang]

Terunofugi know Hakuho is that man not to play with. There wont be another hakuho it's gonna be another couple hundred years before another will come as great or even greater to his stats.

[@drzlb]

The GOAT!

[@ВасилийПупкин-п7у]

Some dirty moves from Hakuho at start.. fattempt to knock-out by forearm punch, so dirty

[@SquaredJunior23]

I got into Sumo when Hakuho was already anliving legend, but im curious to hear the true take on that forearm strike and why the jsa didnt let Hakuho retain his Shikona. Especially since I dont know what a shikona is. Still a bit of an amateur watcher and rooting for Terunofuji this July 2024 Basho in Nagoya 🎉

[@aqua_noodle]

You can say what you want but Teri is a worthy opponent holding his own against the greatest ever. I like the guy

[@joaoalcantara6676]

Hakuho almost knocked Terunofuji out with that forearm to the jaw at the tachiai. That can't be a legal move 😅😅😅

[@jms8941]

that was the only way to win him, he did everything he got, because he truly wanted win that basho cement his legacy. If he doesn't use his tricks, winning chance is 50:50 which is a risk to his ego.

[@eenho]

Legal

[@danieldaugaard403]

Beautiful

[@rimbaud0000]

Amazing

[@arthur12123]

I've always liked HAKUHO a lot, but the arm movement he makes at the beginning of every match, aiming for the opponent's head, has always been a dirty blow for me.

[@ThePigeonStoop]

All of it is legal. you sound like youd get upset at getting thrown in a fighting game.

[@agustinewee796]

@@ThePigeonStoop no one said it wasn't legal. The point he was making is that its un-Yokozuna-ish. Hakuho has been the target of the Japanese media for doing this, and they outright wrote that it made him appear like he was trying to win at all cost even if it would cost him his reputation. Slaps and forearm smahses to the face are part of the game, yes. But you can't deny that many fans didn't really like such moves because it does not look 'honourable', which is a key trait in Sumo. In a 2021 interview after Hakuho retired, he was asked about this, and he conceded that he too felt that face slaps and face smashes were not exactly his thing, but he had to use them more and more often because his knee injury was getting more severe and hindering him from using grappling moves. His take was that winning is his priority, and he accepted the fact that he needed to use less 'honourable' moves. The documentary is still on youtube, just search "Hakuho 2021 interview".

[@ChrisSmith-rd6dm]

Should be done a lot more it is not a illegal move makes sumo more exciting

[@CareBachim]

​@@ThePigeonStoop i Heard the movement was no legal anymore a few years because of Hakuho used it a lot but maybe im wrong teru was pissed about it i guess he was given a pass because of the experience and level of both rikishi

[@Papadragon8155]

2:41 that's as much as you will see a sumo wrestler celebrate. Very controversial .

[@wavyy420]

3:08 did they just hand him his money for winning right there or what was that

[@stugabe33]

@@wavyy420 That's bonus yen from sponsors. The bigger the pile, the bigger the payload.✉️💴💲

[@MegaGoozie]

When he retires I will retire from watching sumo.

[@babyboo3236]

Hukoho elbowed him in the face with the tachiai. I didn’t know that was allowed

[@stugabe33]

Actually, it was a forearm smash which is totally legal. Also you don't realize how big HAKUHO was until you see them standing in the center of the ring eyeballing each other.

[@jrnumex9286]

"fat guy in a little belt"

[@stugabe33]

@@jrnumex9286 🤣🤣🤣

[@vincentmiscvideos3871]

You should change the title. Those who didn't know the eventual winner has all their anticipation spoilt!

[@stugabe33]

Read the description below the video.

[@stugabe33]

Done 👍

[@BornAgainCynic0086]

Not a very big audience?

[@stugabe33]

@@BornAgainCynic0086 It was during the pandemic. There were limits on crowd size & distancing.

[@BornAgainCynic0086]

@@stugabe33 ahhh, right, how sad. TY

[@randystephens8760]

I said hakuho not alcohol!!

[@stugabe33]

😂🤣

[@MrRay168]

To me thats not a forearm charge it's a elbow strike...even if its within the rules. theres a reason the jsa didnt let him keep his shikona...

[@DarkMuj]

The JSA are a bunch of racists who can’t accept that Mongolians are better than them at their own sport

[@pulopmjk277]

wait i thought all rikishi after they retire lose their shikona

[@MrRay168]

@@pulopmjk277 kakuryu remains kakuryu oyakata, it's a choosing right exclusive to yokozunas

[@blankman1212]

You just sound mad that kakaryu wasn't even one tenth of the yokozuna Hakuho was.

[@randystephens8760]

Alcohol thank you for showing us what a true champion is Herm Fuji should not be a yokozuna

[@randystephens8760]

If you can’t beat a yokozuna why should you be at yokozuna Center in Fuji back to Ozeki for good

[@richardsebastian2089]

How you say so? This recent tournament record is almost perfect. And teru also beat Hakuho before many times as well

[@LinhNguyen-bp9hd]

too much altitude for sumo

[@stugabe33]

Read the description below the video. Then let us know if you still feel there's too much attitude.

[@LinhNguyen-bp9hd]

@@stugabe33 I did. Nothing changes. I feel the same. Description is just about how great Hakuho is

[@stugabe33]

@@LinhNguyen-bp9hd Exactly. He was great and we'll never see the likes of someone as dominant as he was in our lifetime. He gets my respect as a long time Sumo fan who's all-time favorite Yokozuna is the great CHIYONOFUJI.

[@pulopmjk277]

@@LinhNguyen-bp9hd without attitude sumo is boring dont care about no samurai spirit at the end of the day without excitement for the viewers sumo wouldnt exist.

[@soroushdarvish9281]

You should watch ballerina instead.

[@bobbywhite1645]

You're not going to take it from him. Not today

[@terencemoore2865]

The GOAT of GOATS

[@Mr.Ciobanu]

HAKUHO's winning in this sport is just bonkers

[@booyo.]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤