Shoot Boxing Japan Girls-S-Cup Champion Yukari Yamaguchi looks to rebound from the first loss of her pro kickboxing career when she returns to action on March 29th at J-Network: “J-Fight & J-Girls 2015 – 1st” in Tokyo, Japan. The highly-touted 16-year-old faces Midori Kato on the card.

Yamaguchi, the younger training partner of Deep Jewels champion Mizuki Inoue, won the 2014 all-Japan Girls S-Cup in August by defeating “V.V” Mei Yamaguchi and Mio Tsumura in one night to claim the title. Kato kicked off her pro career with a victory on an M-Fight card in early December.

Yamaguchi (12-2-0 amateur; 3-1-0 pro) remains one of the brightest female prospects in Japan today in spite of her recent defeat. She made headlines in August by defeating two-time Shoot Boxing JKS48 champion Tsumura in the finals of the all-Japan Girls S-Cup tournament and looked to climb the J-Girls ranks by winning a one-night grand prix in December. However, she was narrowly edged out by J-Girls standout Chihiro Kira in the opening round and suffered her first pro loss in the process.

Kato (7-2-0 amateur; 1-0-0 pro) was a staple of J-Girls cards early in her amateur career, where she faced off against fellow prospects and amassed a solid record. Her amateur tenure also included two victories on Battle of Muay Thai cards, and she made a successful pro debut at the M-Fight-promoted “The Battle of Muay Thai 6” in December. Kato now takes a big step up in competition later this month and looks to hand Yamaguchi her second straight defeat by upsetting the highly-touted teen.

J-Network: “J-Fight & J-Girls 2015 – 1st” takes place on March 29th at Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo, Japan.

(Photo Credit: Akira Ishii, Gravity)