The legendary sumo wrestler Konishiki Yasokichi once posed with the legendary boxer Mike Tyson side by side. Yasokichi was a former American-Japanese sumo wrestler who competed from 1982 to 1997 inside the dohyo, the sumo ring. Yasokichi had a cameo in the 2006 movie from the Fast & Furious franchise, The Fast & the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
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Remember the scene where Han sent his recruit and protagonist Sean to collect money from a man with a giant paw? Well, that was him. Yasokichi, who reached the makuuchi division and won ten special prizes in sumo wrestling.
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While Konishiki Yasokichi made his professional debut in 1982, Mike Tyson made his in 1985. On one hand, Mike Tyson became the heavyweight champion of the world in pro boxing. On the other, Konishiki Yasokichi, apart from his ten special prizes, won two kinboshi and three top division championships.
Mike Tyson and The Fast & The Furious actor and sumo wrestler Konishiki Yasokichi in one print
Yasokichi is three years elder to boxing legend Tyson. Through years of dedication and hustle in the ring, Yasokichi reached the ozeki rank. Ozeki was the highest rank that Yasokichi reached before retiring in November 1997.
The caption of the post read, “Mike Tyson and Konishiki Yasokichi, the first non-Japanese sumo wrestler to reach the rank of ozeki.”
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Yasokichi retired in 1997, but Mike Tyson continued till 2005. In the frame, ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’ looked significantly small. Tyson in his life remained a fan of pro wrestling. Speaking of his favorite wrestler, in an episode of Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson, he said, “When I was young, I liked Mil Máscaras, Bruno Sammartino-he’s my champion, Moondog Mayne, Pedro Morales, Killer Kowalski, Don Leo Jonathan, that was my thing, man.”
Tyson’s love for pro wrestling did not stop there. In fact, he had an appearance in WrestleMania XIV. Reportedly, WWE also paid the champion around $2.5 Million for the show.
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What is your reaction to Yasokichi and Mike Tyson in one frame? Let us know in the comments below.