A famous Japanese Sumo wrestling champion says he's leaving the ring for good. Known as the “Bad Boy” of this ancient Japanese sport he announced his retirement in a tear-filled conference in Tokyo.<br /><br />"Bad boy" sumo grand champion Asashoryu announced his retirement Thursday from the ancient sport in a tear-filled news conference in Tokyo.<br /><br />In emotional farewell, the 29-year-old Mongolian apologized and said he was retiring to take responsibility for the troubles he had caused.<br /><br />Asashoryu, Sumo Grand Champion]:<br />"I apologize for the trouble caused to people outside and inside the sumo world. Today, I'm taking responsibility and have decided to retire."<br /><br />Asashoryu, dabbing tears, said he was proud of having achieved sumo's highest rank, yokozuna. <br /><br />The Japan Sumo Association on Tuesday had ordered an investigation<br />following reports that Asashoryu had broken a man's nose in an incident<br />outside a nightclub last month. <br /><br />The reported incident was not Asashoryu's first brush with controversy in a career dogged by everything from pulling an opponents hair to starting a bathroom brawl during a post-match soak. <br /><br />The head of Asashoryu's sumo stable told Japanese media over the weekend that the yokozuna had been too drunk to remember the incident. <br /><br />His retirement leaves the ancient sport, with origins dating to the mythological founding of Japan, with only one yokozuna, fellow Mongolian Hakuho.
