ONE of Japan’s greatest sumo champions has returned to the ring as a kick-boxer and been knocked out six times in six fights, lasting less than 180 seconds in total.

Anywhere else in the world, Akebono’s lumbering humiliation would be a cause for mockery.

In Japan, where the highest quality is undaunted perseverance in the face of defeat, he has been embraced once more as a national idol.

Last weekend the Hawaiian was knocked senseless by an opponent a third his size, but that merely sealed his reputation as a true Japanese hero. With every battering, his star rises further. To his swelling ranks of fans he is not a superannuated loser but the epitome of the warrior spirit.

Despite the drubbings, Akebono has vowed to continue taking the blows “until I win” — precisely the spirit of determination in the face of failure that the Japanese so admire.

When Akebono first emerged on the sumo scene, he was the ultimate outsider: a Hawaiian college drop-out discovered by the famous stable-master Azumaseki and thrust into tournaments almost immediately.

When he started to win while still at the most junior rank, Japan swallowed its pride and embraced the newcomer to the country’s most ancient sport.

He became the first non- Japanese to rise to the highest rank of yokozuna, used to win entire top-flight tournaments without losing a single match.

He retired in 2001 after a decade at the top, but following a series of failed business ventures the 31st behemoth — his muscle now turned to flab — was lured into an ultraviolent form of professional kickboxing known as K1 by the rich rewards on offer.

The sport commands prime-time slots on Japanese television and the events, often deliberately crafted to resemble outlandish video games, pit fighters from all backgrounds against each other in a battle to the knockout with few rules. The results are often extremely bloody.

The sport’s huge popularity — the New Year’s Day show in 2002 drew the biggest TV audience in Japanese history — means that the money is very good.

K1 has attracted to its fighting stable a rag-bag of talent including former Russian commandos, nightclub bouncers, lumberjacks and even Mike Tyson.

Akebono’s spectacular descent from the bruiser to bruised has sparked not derision, but unprecedented national sympathy and his popularity has never been higher.

His most recent drubbing, at the New Year K1 match, was especially harsh. Akebono faced a man some 18st lighter, but was quickly mauled into submission.

Of course the fans would love him to win with a lucky blow, but they know the chances are remote.

So Akebono’s career path is now simple: so long as he is prepared to lumber into the ring and have the living daylights beaten out of him, he will be a rich man. With every heavy tumble he takes, the ratings leap and so does his salary.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he lost 100 fights in a row,” said Tarzan Yamamoto, the former managing editor of Weekly Pro Wrestling.

“I can’t see organisers arranging an easy opponent for the former yokozuna at this stage. He’s probably in for a few more beatings yet.”

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