FILE PHOTO: Akebono, a native of Waimanalo, Hawaii and former Sumo Grand Champion in Japan, attends the opening ceremony of the K-1 World Grand Prix in Honolulu, July 29, 2005. REUTERS/Lucy Pemoni LP/PN
TOKYO (Reuters) -Akebono, an American-born sumo wrestler who became the first non-Japanese grand champion or "yokozuna", died of heart failure this month in Tokyo, the sumo association said on Thursday. He was 54.
The winner of 11 championships - the 10th most in modern sumo history - Akebono was physically imposing at 203 centimeters (6'8") and 233 kilograms (514 lb). His fighting style relied on his immense size to thrust his foes out of the ring.
