FUKUOKA (Kyodo) -- Yokozuna Onosato and Hoshoryu remained at the front of the pack with Ukrainian prodigy Aonishiki on Thursday, as all three overnight leaders improved to 10-2 at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.

Onosato bounced back from two straight losses by beating sekiwake Oho, Hoshoryu outdueled komusubi Takayasu, and sekiwake Aonishiki got the better of rank-and-file opponent Oshoma on Day 12 of the 15-day competition at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

The 21-year-old Aonishiki put the pressure on the two grand champions by becoming the first to log his 10th victory in a grappling battle with Mongolian No. 4 maegashira Oshoma (3-9).

Gunning for his maiden championship and a potential ozeki promotion, Aonishiki had his hands full against the former komusubi before eventually toppling him with a backward force down.

Onosato, determined to avoid equaling his career-worst losing streak, weathered a strong thrust to the throat by Oho before forcing him over the straw bales and consigning the sekiwake to a losing record for the meet at 4-8.

The five-time Emperor's Cup winner will face Aonishiki on Friday in one of the most anticipated battles of the year's final grand tournament.

Hoshoryu, who grabbed a share of the lead the previous day thanks to Onosato's surprise loss to komusubi Takanosho and Aonishiki's defeat at the hands of burgeoning No. 5 maegashira Yoshinofuji, survived a bruising encounter with powerfully built veteran Takayasu.

The nephew of former yokozuna Asashoryu came in trailing Takayasu 10-4 head-to-head, but had won their last two meetings, including at September's Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo.

After the pair traded fierce blows, including a slap that bloodied Hoshoryu's mouth, the yokozuna ended the contest with a push that sent former ozeki Takayasu (5-7) flying from the ring.

Former ozeki Kirishima clinched a winning record and stayed two bouts off the pace at 8-4 by pushing out fellow No. 2 maegashira Wakamotoharu, who dropped to 6-6.

Lone ozeki Kotozakura (7-5) logged his fifth straight win in a close call against Yoshinofuji (8-4), slapping down the former collegiate star, previously wrestling under the name Kusano, who was aiming to stay one bout back from the lead.

Already guaranteed to finish the meet with a losing record, Takanosho dropped to 3-9 as he was pushed out by veteran No. 4 maegashira Tamawashi (5-7).