Shannon Rachelle Hall is an American professional boxer, bodybuilder, martial artist, and actress. She was the first ever Toughwoman Champion and competed on American Gladiators as Dallas. She has also worked as a professional boxer in the IFBA Boxing League. She has competed on ESPN, starred in two pay-per-views, and featured in Sports Illustrated, Muscle & Fitness and USA Today.
Career
In 1993, Hall was selected out of thousands of contestants across the United States to star as "Dallas" on the syndicated television show, The American Gladiators, in Los Angeles. She went on to win the "Alumni Special" on the series, defeating fellow gladiator ZAP for the title. Hall continued playing "Dallas" in the American Gladiators's Orlando Live Dinner Show from 1995–1998 in Kissimmee, Florida. Hall was also a fitness competitor, winning the Fitness America California Pageant in 1993, then placing fourth in the Nationals on ESPN. In 1996, in Detroit, Michigan, a "Toughwoman" contest was added to the Toughman Contest circuit. Hall entered upon invitation and won the $10,000 Boxing Grand Prize, a professional boxing contract and the Toughwoman World Championship title. In 1997, Hall entered the Wushu Unlimited Martial Arts Tournament in Orlando, Florida, winning Women's San Shou Competition. Men's San Shou Champion, Kung Lee, taught Shannon briefly before the competition, the rules of San Shou, including punching, kicking and taking down your opponent. Hall learned quickly and dominated her opponent to win the tournament. In February 1998, Hall successfully defended her Toughwoman title on pay-per-view, winning the IFBA Platinum Division belt against three other professional women boxers. Hall went undefeated in ten fights in Toughwoman contests. In February 1998, Hall became the first woman to box professionally in Madison Square Garden. Under Dore Management, she was in a match on a Buster Douglasundercard, knocking out Tara Fernandez in 1:36 in the first round. Hall trained with boxing and kickboxing trainers Murray Sutherland, Jeff Gibson, and Ruben Morales, and was a stable-mate to Hector "Macho" Camacho under boxing coach Frank Pezzulo. In her third boxing title attempt in 1999, this time for the IBA Super-Middleweight Belt, Hall faced off against Suzy Taylor. Hall lost to Taylor in the 9th round via referee stoppage, and soon after retired from competition.
