Yokozuna Taro quits sumo for K-1

[Taro Toporific]

Sumo great Akebono to join K-1 as fighter
Mainichi Shimbun, Japan, Nov. 6, 2003 Former yokozuna and sumo stablemaster Akebono has left the Japan Sumo Association to join K-1 as a fighter, it was learned Thursday.He tendered his resignation as stablemaster and sumo association member ...A native of Hawaii, Akebono, 34, whose real name is Taro Akebono...became the first foreign national to be promoted to yokozuna, the highest rank as a sumo wrestler.

[oyajikun]

OMG this is great! Chad Chad Chad!!!

[yellowlightman]

Isn't K-1 kickboxing? Seems like a guy of his girth might have problems with the high kicks. Though I suppose he could just push them over.

[Taro Toporific]

OMG this is great! Chad Chad Chad!!!

No, no, no...

Akebono, 34, whose real name is Taro Akebono....

[Watcher]

Today's just full of suck. First Revolutions and now this? C'mon. The grand spectacle that was the sport of K1 has been tarnished by the entry of those who merely have size as their skill. I hold as my evidence both Bob 'don't hit me in my CM King face' Sapp and South African 'Tyson's dinner' Botha in the decrease of the sports competition and an increase in fouls. These men plus Akebono do not belong in such a sport. If they want to fight a mixed battle then enter UFC (Is that still going?) or the WWF (sorry I mean WWE) where they used to have a former sumo wrestler by the name of Yokozuna. At least there there are no rules to obey.

[Blah Pete]

Didn't Akebono have more than one knee surgery before he retired? Towards the end of his carreer he sure walked like he had bad knees.
Why would he want to go into K1 at his age anyway.

[Taro Toporific]

Didn't Akebono have more than one knee surgery before he retired?
Why would he want to go into K1 at his age anyway.

First foreign-born sumo grand champion to head for combat sport K-1
[url=http://asia.news.yahoo.com/031106/afp/031106171333people.html]AFP &#183]....Akebono told a press conference broadcast live on multiple nationwide television networks.

"I have three children, who were too young to remember when I was fighting (as a sumo wrester). My dream has been to show them a father who is a fighter," he said, reading from a Japanese-language statement.
"K-1" is a popular combat sport in Japan, based on karate, kickboxing, Tae Kwon Do and kung fu. Its tournaments and contestants are heavily promoted much like professional wrestling, though fights are more violent and often bloody. ...
"But I could not help but feel the enthusiasm (for K-1) brewing inside me. I could no longer keep it inside me, so I made this decision" to become a K-1 fighter, he said.
Akebono, who was born Chad George Rowan, came to Japan to become a sumo wrestler in 1988

[Steve Bildermann]

According to the 'weeklies' he is in in big debt due to

a) borrowing heavily to buy his Sumo Kyokai Kabu
b) Incredibly bad investments
c) bankruptcy of two of his 'friends' who he signed off on loans for.

There is also a whiff of an 'private' investigation about rigged matches in which he was involved and in which he was placing bets.

[Blah Pete]

a) borrowing heavily to buy his Sumo Kyokai Kabu
b) Incredibly bad investments
c) bankruptcy of two of his 'friends' who he signed off on loans for.

I think one of the above is the reasons he is going into K-1.

"But I could not help but feel the enthusiasm (for K-1) brewing inside me. I could no longer keep it inside me, so I made this decision" to become a K-1 fighter, he said.

The Japanese way of saying I'm broke or in money trouble and need some quick cash. Same excuse Mike Tyson is using.

It is sad to see a guy like Akebono have to lower himself like this. But I have a feeling in K-1 he may get "lowered" quite often...

[Taro Toporific]

Today's just full of suck. First Revolutions and now this? C'mon. The grand spectacle that was the sport of K1 has been tarnished by the entry of those who merely have size as their skill. I hold as my evidence both Bob 'don't hit me in my CM King face' Sapp ....

EXHIBIT 1: the Apocalypse now nears!


....Akebono (R) and popular American K-1 fighter Bob ''The Beast'' Sapp poses for photographs at a press conference in a Tokyo hotel on Nov. 6. Akebono said he has resigned from the Japan Sumo Association and decided to become a K-1 martial arts fighter. (Kyodo / Nov 7)

[kurohinge1]

First Sumo.

Then K-1.

These are just stepping stones for his true desire -
to battle masters such as Link, Kirby and Mario in N64 Super Smash Brothers


But with Taro's knee problem, my money's on Pikachu

[Andocrates]

I sure hope he's doing it because he needs money, that's the only thing that makes sense. He's wants a cut of those Bob Sapp product endorsments. I think, unless the bouts are fixed, (and I'm sure they are) he'll get the snot beat out of him.

[serum]

what a loser. atleast he had respect within sumo and he decides to throw it away for K-1???? don't you need to kick? i guess he wants his kids to see him get his ass kicked.

[oyajikun]

OMG this is great! Chad Chad Chad!!!

No, no, no...

Akebono, 34, whose real name is Taro Akebono....

And Chad to those who know him.

[Taro Toporific]

According to the 'weeklies' he is in in big debt due to a) borrowing heavily to buy his Sumo Kyokai Kabu b) Incredibly bad investments c) bankruptcy of two of his 'friends' who he signed off on loans for. There is also a whiff of an 'private' investigation about rigged matches in which he was involved and in which he was placing bets.

Hear it first from Steve B. on the FG. Then read the story by our own Marvin.

Akebono dumps sumo to
roll in K1 pay dirt
By Marvin Feltcher, Staff Writer / November 11, 2003
Greedy gaijin grapplers are ruining the ancient sport of sumo, rants Shukan Post (11/21)....We feel betrayed," a top official from the sport's governing body, the Japan Sumo Association, tells Shukan Post.
The official says Akebono was struggling to survive on the 1.2 million yen monthly stipend the JSA gave him.... Shukan Post...Japan's top selling weekly adds that Akebono is also frowned upon for another reason - his close relationship with current Yokozuna Asashoryu... "sumo's bad boy."...."Asashoryu has made no secret of his refusal to take out Japanese citizenship ....