Erin Toughill : biography
Erin Young Toughill (born June 13, 1977) is a mixed martial artist and former boxer and American Gladiator.
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 8 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw and 1 no contest.
She counts IBF Super Middleweight contender Librado Andrade, a long-time sparring partner, among her close friends.
Mixed martial arts career
After going 1-1-1 in her first three bouts, Toughill won five straight fights before losing in the finals of the 2004 Smackgirl World ReMix Tournament to Megumi Yabushita.
She competed once more and scored a TKO victory over Jen Case in 2006.
In 2007, Toughill retired from both boxing and MMA.
She later appeared as "Steel" on the second season of the American Gladiators remake.
Toughill came out of retirement from MMA and fought Jan Finney on November 20, 2008 at Palace Fighting Championships 11.
Despite cutting over 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.
Personal life
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.
Accomplishments
- Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under James Boran
- 2001 ReMix Golden Gate Japan Champion
- W-Fusion 2001 Japan Champion
Boxing record
Win | |
Draw | |
Loss |
Date | Opponent | Result | Location |
---|---|---|---|
August 31, 2006 | Laura Ramsey | TKO (Round 1) | Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, United States |
January 27, 2006 | Laura Ramsey | Unanimous Decision | The Palladium, Hollywood, California, United States |
June 11, 2005 | Laila Ali | TKO (Round 3) | MCI Center, Washington, DC, United States |
October 22, 2004 | Yvonne Reis | Unanimous Decision | Municipal Auditorium, Sarasota, Florida, United States |
July 31, 2004 | Cassandra Giger | Unanimous Decision | Sam’s Town Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, United States |
November 14, 2003 | Kuulei Kupihea | Unanimous Decision | Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California, United States |
July 24, 2003 | Nicole Conant | Unanimous Decision | Performing Arts Center, Oxnard, California, United States |
June 4, 2002 | Jackie Frazier-Lyde | No Contest | The Temple Corps, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
December 6, 2001 | Dakota Stone | Draw | Palace Indian Gaming Center, Lemoore, California, United States |
October 7, 2000 | Veronica Sanchez | Majority Decision | Centennial Garden Arena, Bakersfield, California, United States |
August 26, 2000 | Correena Grizoffi | Unanimous Decision | Selland Arena, Fresno, California, United States |
July 20, 2000 | Elizabeth Rumpf | Unanimous Decision | Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, United States |