Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) to fight.

1997		Da Bomb Summer Supplement 7: Go toe-to-toe (v.) To fight. [Ibid.] 29: Toe-to-toe: To fight.
2000		E.L. Wilson Jr Quo Custodiet Ipsos Custodes 🌐 Sam was going toe to toe with a burly sugarcane plantation worker who had sourly suggested bulldozing the entire swamp and paving it over.
2006		(con. 1972) Jurgenson & Cea Circle of Six 194: I was now going toe-to-toe with the job.