Ai Takahashi Faces Hyo Kyung Song At Shoot Boxing 2013: Act 1A third women’s bout has been added to this Friday’s Shoot Boxing 2013: Act.1 card at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Former Shoot Boxing Japan Women’s Flyweight Champion Ai Takahashi returns to action to face South Korea’s Hyo Kyung Song in a 60kg matchup announced earlier today.

Takahashi advanced on to the finals of the 2012 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup 53.5 tournament before falling to teen prodigy Mizuki Inoue in August. She rebounded with a TKO victory under kickboxing rules in December. Song remains in search of her first shoot boxing win after debuting this past year.

Takahashi (13-4-0 SB/KB) won the vacant Shoot Boxing Japan women’s flyweight title with a five-round victory over promotional superstar Rena Kubota in June 2011, but encountered mixed success during a 2-2 run in 2012. Both of Takahashi’s losses came against Inoue, but she scored a notable victory over Rio Kamikaze in June and knocked out Itsuka Yokose in a kickboxing match at RISE/M-1MC: “Infinity” in December. She will be seen as a considerable favourite in the bout against Song (0-1-0 SB), who lost her shoot boxing debut to highly-touted prospect Seira Aragaki at Jewels: “20th Ring” in July.

The bout between Takahashi and Song will be contested at a weight of 60 kilograms, or 132 pounds, which is significantly greater than Takahashi’s prior shoot boxing matches. Despite her inexperience, Song should hold an edge in both strength and power.

Two additional female fights were previously announced for Friday’s card. In a 48kg matchup, JKS48 Shoot Boxing Women’s Minimumweight Champion Mio Tsumura faces J-Girls Mini Flyweight Champion Momi. In 54kg action, 2012 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup 53.5 tournament participant Mina battles MMA and kickboxing veteran Miyo Yoshida.

Shoot Boxing 2013: Act.1 takes place on February 22nd at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

 

 

(Photo Credit: Shoot Boxing)