Local Civilians Go Toe to Toe with Japan’s Sumo Pros 

Pictured left Top: Heather Baker, Don Gooch, Roger Scott. Bottom right (l-r): Ramy, Hiroki, Mendee. 

Three well-known “civilians” will mix it up against three rather large professional sumos on Sunday, March 3, in “Sumo! Sumo! Sumo!,” Arkansas’s first sumo wrestling exhibition at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs. 

Banker Don Gooch, publisher Heather Baker, and radio personality Roger Scott will go toe to toe against the heaviest sumo in the world and two other rather large sumo pros as part of the evening’s entertainment. 

The sumo exhibition also coincides with Hot Springs’ Seventh Annual Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival, a celebration of Japanese culture, from 12:30 – 5:30 PM, March 3. Sponsored by the Hot Springs National Park Sister City Foundation, the event will be held in the Hot Springs Convention Center at 134 Convention Boulevard. The festival is a family-friendly event with something for all ages. General admission to this part of the event will be free. 

“Sumo! Sumo! Sumo!” begins at 6 PM, pitting three of the world’s most recognizable sumos against each other in a round-robin exhibition.  

Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for kids 12 and under for general admission. Floor seating will be $50 per ticket and are available at https://www.hotsprings.org/events/sumo/. 
“This is going to be a great fun event for the entire family,” Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said.  

For more info, call Steve Arrison at 501-321-2027.

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