SEATTLE -- Veteran photographer Hy Peskin told Margaret McGregor and Loi Chow to move closer together.

The combatants in Saturday's historic male-female professional boxing match were posing in the middle of the ring at the Hillman City Boxing Gym in south Seattle the other day.

"If I get any closer, I'm going to kiss her," said Chow, as he moved in for a tight shot.

Sports Illustrated arranged the photo shoot and paid for Chow to fly down from Vancouver, B.C.

No doubt, some believe this intergender bout to be a sign that the apocalypse is truly upon us.

Man vs. woman? C'mon.

"It's a freak show," wrote Steve Kelly of the Seattle Times.

Others, including McGregor, say, "Why not?"

Seattle's Bob Jarvis, the promoter who put this Battle of the Sexes together, thought there would be more controversy.

"I go by the precept that most women probably don't want to fight guys," Jarvis said. "Margaret wants to, and, hey, it's a free country."

The fact that SI, the respected weekly sports magazine, has taken notice lends credibility to the event that has turned McGregor into Bremerton's newest celebrity.

While posing for Peskin, who flew in from San Diego to conduct the photo session, McGregor asked Chow, "Been having fun with the press?"

"Yeah," said Chow, nodding his bald head while looking into McGregor's eyes.

"Me, too," McGregor said.

The day before, the syndicated television program "Extra" sent a crew to Twin Tigers Gym, where McGregor has been training twice a day to get ready for the four-round bout. "ABC World News Tonight" followed "Extra" into the red-brick building on Friday afternoon.

"Inside Edition," another syndicated tabloid show, paid a visit to Chow in his hometown of Vancouver last week and is also interviewing McGregor.

"She needs to get away from all of this, and so do I," said Vern Miller, McGregor's trainer.

In addition to the local television affiliates and media, McGregor's taken calls from Scotland and Germany. The London Daily Times, London Mirror and New York Times newspapers have interviewed her and plan to cover the fight. The Canadian Broadcasting Co. is sending a four-man crew to the fight, which will be the last of seven bouts on a Mercer Arena card scheduled to start at 7 p.m. (PDT).

"The Roseanne Show," the nationally televised talk show hosted by actress/comedienne Roseanne Barr, plans to interview McGregor by phone during a live segment Thursday.

"The Tonight Show," NBC's late-night talk show, called to request some video film of McGregor. "If she wins, they indicated she could get invited to be on the show," Miller said.

"Who hasn't called?" said Jarvis, rolling his eyes.

At first, McGregor was surprised by the media attention.

"I didn't realize what a big deal it was," she said. "It's kind of shocked the world, but it's just normal to me."

McGregor's comfortable in front of a camera.

"We've been trying to make it fun," she said. "Just put it into my everyday life and go forward."

Before her interview with "Extra" on Friday, McGregor emerged from Twin Tigers' makeshift dressing room and feigned outrage.

"Oh, I broke my nail," McGregor said in her best imitation of a bimbo before disappearing behind the curtain.

McGregor has stopped taking calls at home, and Miller said he's proud of the way his fighter has handled her newfound notoriety.

"I think all the excitement's making her more focused," he said. "Pressure just feeds her. It adds fuel to the fighter."

The jocular Chow, a former jockey who was in a hurry to get back to Vancouver to wager on the B.C. Derby at Hastings Park, downplayed the media attention.

"It's not that big of a deal," he said of the bout. "People back home don't really care."

Chow, according to Jarvis, could end up making more money off the media circus than he does from the fight. Chow charged the London Daily Mirror $150 to take his photo and demanded money from the syndicated TV shows for interviews.

Jarvis estimated Chow has made $1,150 during the past three days.

"I guess he's got to do what he's got to do," Jarvis said. "It's his 15 minutes of fame."

McGregor and Chow will earn $1,500 for the fight.