The second annual Shoot Boxing JKS48 high school girls’ tournament kicks off on Saturday night at Shoot Boxing 2013: Act.2 in Tokyo, Japan. 2012 JKS48 champion Mio Tsumura takes on one-time Jewels competitor Fuka Yoshino in one of two quarterfinal matchups announced on Thursday.

In a second quarterfinal bout, 2012 semi-finalist Yusa Tachi returns to action to face Yuuki Kira, who also took part in the inaugural 48kg tournament this past year. The winners of Saturday’s bouts will advance on to the next round in August, where the tournament champion must win twice in one night.

Tsumura (7-1-0 SB) earned her spot in the semi-final round of the JKS48 tournament by defeating Kira via a lopsided Unanimous Decision one year ago. On August 25th, she earned a close decision victory over Tachi and stopped Akari “Eneos” Nakamura later in the night to become the 2012 Shoot Boxing JKS48 tournament champion. The popular protégé of three-time Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup Champion Rena Kubota returned to the ring in February to face her toughest opponent to date, J-Girls champion Momi, but the veteran striker proved to be too much for Tsumura, who suffered her first career defeat via Majority Decision after an extension round.

Yoshino made a successful debut for Jewels in May on the promotion’s first card in Osaka, where she edged out Ayaka Nishina via Majority Decision in a kickboxing match. She gives up an experience edge to the tournament favourite, Tsumura, and looks to score an upset to advance on to the next round. Both Tachi and Kira will be looking to improve upon their performances in the inaugural JKS48 tournament.

The remaining two JKS48 quarterfinal bouts will take place on June 23rd. Shoot Boxing officials have not yet announced the names of the participants on the other side of the tournament bracket.

Shoot Boxing 2013: Act.2 takes place on April 20th at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The event also features two additional female fights. Rena Kubota takes on Du Peiling and Lorena “Lady Pitbull” Klijn battles Miyo Yoshida.

(Photo Credit: Shoot Boxing)