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Erin Toughill

Erin Young Toughill (born June 13, 1977) is an American former professional boxer, mixed martial artist, and bare-knuckle boxer who also appeared as a Gladiator on the American Gladiators series.


Erin Toughill
(1977-06-13) June 13, 1977Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Steel
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
160 lb (73 kg)
72 in (180 cm)
Boxing
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Elite Training Center, CSW, HB Ultimate, Xtreme Couture
14
7
0
6
1
14
10
4
1
5
3
1
1
1
1
www.erintoughill.com
Boxing record from BoxRec
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Erin Young Toughill (born June 13, 1977) is an American former professional boxer, mixed martial artist, and bare-knuckle boxer who also appeared as a Gladiator on the American Gladiators series.

She began kickboxing at the age of 18 and started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu soon after.

Under the watch of her LA Boxing trainer Sean McCully, Toughill debuted in mixed martial arts on September 27, 1999, and fought to a draw with Irma Verhoeff at World Vale Tudo Championship 9 in Aruba.

Less than a year later, she made her professional boxing debut on July 20, 2000.

Along with her MMA career, Toughill holds a professional boxing record of 7 wins, 5 losses, 1 draw and 1 no contest.

She counts IBF Super Middleweight contender Librado Andrade, a long-time sparring partner, among her close friends.

Toughill had only one loss before losing her against Laila Ali. Her final boxing match was against Laura Ramsey, whom she defeated previously. Toughill's father died three days before her rematch to Laura Ramsey. Toughill lost the fight by technical knockout in the first round. She and retired soon after with a record of 7–3–1, 1 NC.

Toughill returned to boxing on January 27, 2019, against Maricela Cornejo losing a unanimous decision. Toughill fought again on May 18, 2019, losing via TKO to Raquel Miller.

After going 1–1–1 in her first three bouts, Toughill won five straight fights before losing due to illegal hits to the spine in the finals of the 2004 Smackgirl World ReMix Tournament to Megumi Yabushita. She competed once more and scored a technical knockout victory over Jen Case in 2006.

In 2007, Toughill retired from both boxing and MMA. Toughill came out of retirement from MMA and fought Jan Finney on November 20, 2008, at Palace Fighting Championships 11. Despite cutting over 20 pounds (9.1 kg) to make the contracted weight limit, Toughill was victorious and later went on to defeat Karen Williams and Emily Thompson in subsequent events for PFC after a fight with Adrienna Jenkins was cancelled due to injury.

Toughill was set to make her Strikeforce debut on November 7, 2009, at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers in a rematch with Marloes Coenen, whom Toughill defeated in 2004. However, she later withdrew from the fight due to an undisclosed medical condition.

On March 18, 2010, Toughill announced that she was planning to leave Strikeforce. She had been scheduled to compete on the undercard of Strikeforce: Nashville on April 17. However, in a second posting on April 9, 2010, Toughill attributed the disagreements with Strikeforce to misunderstandings and stated that she would be staying with the promotion.

Toughill was scheduled to face Shana Olsen at Strikeforce: Houston on August 21, 2010, but the fight was cancelled due to concerns over Toughill's ability to make weight. According to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, Toughill's next fight will not take place in Strikeforce, but she remains a part of the promotion's roster.

Toughill was offered to face Cristiane Santos for a bout in 2010, but the fight never came into fruition.

Toughill was scheduled to compete outside of Strikeforce against China's Bao Yu Dan at Martial Combat 9 on September 15, 2010, in Singapore. However, on September 13, Toughill withdrew from the fight after citing a broken clavicle.

Toughill returned to active competition after nearly two years at Freestyle Cage Fighting 46 on April 9, 2011. The fight was against Ashley Sanchez at a 160 lb (73 kg) catchweight (per Toughill's request). Toughill lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Toughill agreed to face Anna Barone at BlackEye Promotions 5 on October 1, 2011, in Fletcher, North Carolina, but withdrew from the fight after suffering a rib injury in training.

Toughill became a cast member of NBC's primetime series, American Gladiators, where she became known as Steel.

Toughill made her bare knuckle boxing debut with BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series, losing a 5-round split decision to Jozette Cotton at BYB 6 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood on July 16, 2021.

On March 12, 2022, she defeated Sonya Dreiling via unanimous decision at BYB 9, improving her bare knuckle record to 1-1.

Erin married Neil Melanson, a grappling coach and lead Jiu-Jitsu instructor at Xtreme Couture, in a private ceremony on November 20, 2009. Melanson also serves as the primary grappling coach for UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, and has cornered Couture during several recent MMA fights. The couple is currently going through a divorce.

Toughill's younger sister, Megan, was killed in a car accident on September 19, 2004, which was about three weeks before her title fight with Yvonne Reis.

Toughill was featured on MSNBC's Warrior Nation as she prepared for a fight.

In 2022, Toughill launched Talk Tough with Erin Toughill, an interview-style podcast focused on bare knuckle boxing.

Column 1Column 2Column 3
14 matches10 wins3 losses
By knockout40
By submission11
By decision51
By disqualification01
Draws1
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss10-3-1Ashley SanchezDecision (unanimous)Freestyle Cage Fighting 46April 9, 201135:00Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States
Win10-2-1Emily ThompsonDecision (unanimous)PFC 13: ValidationMay 8, 200933:00Lemoore, California, United States
Win9-2-1Karen WilliamsTKO (punches)PFC: Best of Both WorldsFebruary 6, 200912:06Lemoore, California, United States
Win8-2-1Jan FinneyDecision (unanimous)PFC 11: All InNovember 20, 200833:00Lemoore, California, United States
Win7-2-1Jen CaseTKO (punches)VF - Showdown at Cache Creek IISeptember 15, 200622:22Brooks, California, United States
Loss6-2-1Megumi YabushitaDQ (elbows)Smackgirl - World ReMix 2004December 19, 200412:39Shizuoka, JapanOpen Weight Queen tournament finals.
Win6-1-1Marloes CoenenKO (punch)Smackgirl - World ReMix 2004December 19, 200415:00Shizuoka, JapanOpen Weight Queen tournament semi-finals.
Win5-1-1Miwako IshiharaTKO (corner stoppage)Smackgirl - World ReMix 2004December 19, 200410:27Shizuoka, JapanOpen Weight Queen tournament first round.
Win4-1-1Miwako IshiharaDecision (unanimous)Smackgirl - DynamicSeptember 1, 200235:00Shizuoka, Japan
Win3-1-1Kaoru ItoDecision (unanimous)W - FusionJuly 27, 200135:00Tokyo, Japan
Win2-1-1Megumi YabushitaTechnical Submission (armbar)ReMix - Golden Gate 2001May 3, 200123:08Japan
Loss1-1-1Svetlana GoundarenkoSubmission (scarf-hold armlock)ReMix - World Cup 2000December 5, 200012:47JapanOpen Weight tournament semi-finals.
Win1-0-1Irina RodinaDecision (split)ReMix - World Cup 2000December 5, 200025:00JapanOpen Weight tournament quarter-finals.
Draw0-0-1Irma VerhoeffDrawWorld Vale Tudo Championship 9September 27, 1999115:00Aruba
13 fights7 wins4 losses
02
72
1
1
No.ResultRecordOpponentMethodRound, timeDateLocationNotes
13Loss7–4-1 (1)Maricela CornejoUD8Jan 27, 2019The Avalon Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
12Loss7–3-1 (1)Laura RamseyTKO1 (6), 1:28Aug 31, 2006Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.Fight stopped after Toughill fell through ropes
11Win7–2-1 (1)Laura RamseyUD6Jan 27, 2006The Palladium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
10Loss6–2-1 (1)Laila AliTKO3 (10), 1:54Jun 11, 2005MCI Center, Washington, DC, U.S
9Win6–1-1 (1)Yvonne ReisUD10Oct 22, 2004Municipal Auditorium, Sarasota, Florida, U.S.
8Win5–1-1 (1)Cassandra GigerUD8Jul 31, 2004Sam's Town Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, U.S
7Win4–1-1 (1)Kuulei KupiheaUD4Nov 14, 2003Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California, U.S.
6Win3–1-1 (1)Nicole ConantUD4Jul 24, 2003Oxnard Performing Arts Center, Oxnard, California, U.S.
5NC2–1-1 (1)Jackie Frazier-LydeNC3 (8)Jun 4, 2002The Temple Corps, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.For WIBF Inter-Continental super middleweight title;Fight stopped after Toughill cut from accidental head clash
4Draw2–1-1Dakota StonePTS4Dec 12, 2001Palace Indian Gaming Center, Lemoore, California, U.S.
3Win2–1Veronica SanchezMD4Oct 7, 2000Centennial Garden Arena, Bakersfield, California, U.S.
2Win1–1Correena GrizoffiUD4Aug 26, 2000Selland Arena, Fresno, California, U.S.
1Loss0–1Elizabeth RumpfUD4Jul 20, 2000Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, U.S.
2 fights1 win1 loss
00
11
No.ResultRecordOpponentMethodRound, timeDateLocationNotes
2Win1-1Sonya DreilingUD5March 12, 2022Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa, Florida, U.S.
1Loss0-1Jozette CottonUD5Jul 16, 2021Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
  • Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under James Boran

  • 2001 ReMix Golden Gate Japan Champion

  • W-Fusion 2001 Japan Champion

  • Professional MMA record for Erin Toughill from Sherdog

  • Boxing record for Erin Toughill from BoxRec (registration required)

  • Fightergirls.com profile

  • Official American Gladiators Bio

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