A man has told police he was seriously assaulted by Asashoryu in an incident in which the Mongolian-born grand champion also allegedly punched an acquaintance in a recent drunken tirade, police acknowledged Thursday.

In the case in question, Asashoryu, 29, was reported by weekly magazine Friday to have been "sloshed" before slugging an acquaintance, who was originally believed to have been his manager, outside a pub in downtown Nishiazabu in the early hours of Jan. 16.

However, weekly magazine Shukan Shincho has reported in its edition which hit newsstands Thursday that the actual man attacked in the incident, which occurred during the recently concluded New Year meet, was in charge of a dance club where the yokozuna had been drinking.

Asashoryu allegedly punched the man, who has not been identified, in the chest while exiting the club and later hit him in the face after the yokozuna said, "Let's go talk in the car."

The article describes a detailed account of Asashoryu instructing his driver to go to a river after the man said the matter of the assault was "water under the bridge."

"I'll kill you there," he is quoted as saying as the car drove off.

Asashoryu's car reportedly entered a street where police officers were already on the scene due to an accident.

The man is reported to have screamed out "help" and "I'm being attacked" when the car went by the accident and police apparently rushed to his aid.

Azabu Police have said Asashoryu, whose real name is Dolgorsuren Dagvadorj, is likely to be questioned in the case, if the man does decide to file a criminal complaint.

The man, whose injuries reportedly included a broken nose, lacerations of the lip and bruises to the back of his head, apparently went to police on Monday, a day after the New Year meet concluded, to discuss the incident.

Asashoryu won his 25th career Emperor's Cup at the New Year meet to take sole possession of third on the all-time list for the most title wins in sumo history.

On Monday, Asashoryu admitted to drunken behavior as reported in weekly magazine Friday and was reprimanded along with his stablemaster Takasago by Japan Sumo Association chairman Musashigawa.

One of his managers claimed that he had been the person assaulted and although Asashoryu had been vague about details he has not denied that account.

If a coverup did indeed occur and criminal charges are brought against the yokozuna, sumo officials are warning that Asashoryu would likely be forced into early retirement.