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Akebono Taro

Akebono Tarō
曙太郎
SumoAkebono.jpg
Personal information
Born Chadwick Haheo Rowan
(1969-05-08) 8 May 1969 (age 47)
Waimānalo, Hawaii, U.S.
Height 203 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Weight 250 kg (550 lb; 39 st 5 lb)
Web presence website
Career
Stable Azumazeki
Record 654-232-181
Debut March 1988
Highest rank Yokozuna (27 January 1993)
Retired January 2001
Championships 11 (Makuuchi)
Special Prizes Outstanding Performance (4)
Fighting Spirit (2)
Gold Stars 4
Asahifuji (2)
Ōnokuni
Hokutoumi
* Up to date as of August 2007.
Akebono
Born Chad Rowan
(1969-05-08) May 8, 1969 (age 47)
Waimānalo, Hawaii, U.S.
Other names Akebono
Nationality Japanese
Height 6 ft 8 in (203 cm)
Weight 514 lb (233 kg; 36 st 10 lb)
Division Super heavyweight
Style Sumo
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Tokyo, Japan
Team Team Yokozuna
Rank Yokozuna in sumo
Years active 3 (2003–2006)
Kickboxing record
Total 10
Wins 1
Losses 9
By knockout 5
Mixed martial arts record
Total 4
Wins 0
Losses 4
By submission 3
By decision 1
Draws 0
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Akebono Tarō (曙 太郎 Akebono Tarō?, born 8 May 1969 as Chadwick Haheo Rowan) is an American-born Japanese professional wrestler and former sumo wrestler from Waimānalo, Hawaii. Joining the professional sport in Japan in 1988, he was trained by pioneering Hawaiian sumo wrestler Takamiyama and rose swiftly up the rankings, reaching the top division in 1990. After two consecutive yusho or tournament championships in November 1992 and January 1993 he made history by becoming the first non-Japanese-born wrestler ever to reach yokozuna, the highest rank in sumo.

One of the tallest and heaviest wrestlers ever, Akebono's rivalry with the young Japanese hopefuls, Takanohana and Wakanohana, was a big factor in the increased popularity of sumo at tournament venues and on TV in the early 1990s. During his eight years at the yokozuna rank, Akebono won a further eight tournament championships, for a career total of eleven, and was a runner-up on thirteen other occasions, despite suffering several serious injuries. Although his rival yokozuna Takanohana won more tournaments in this period, their individual head-to-heads remained very close.

Akebono became a Japanese citizen in 1996, and after retiring in 2001 he worked as a coach at Azumazeki stable before leaving the Sumo Association in 2003. After an unsuccessful period as a K-1 fighter, he is now a professional wrestler. In All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) he has been a two-time Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, two-time World Tag Team Champion, and two-time All Asia Tag Team Champion.


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