On October 9, 1999, Bremerton-born boxer Margaret McGregor defeats male challenger Loi Chow of Vancouver, British Columbia, in a four-round junior lightweight bout at Mercer Arena in Seattle. It is the first sanctioned mixed-gender match in the history of professional boxing.
History Made
Margaret McGregor, born in Bremerton in 1963, was living in Port Orchard and competing in the women's super-featherweight division when she made boxing history against Chow at Mercer Arena. "It was my trainer’s idea," McGregor recalled. "We couldn’t find a female opponent for that night. Vern [Miller, her coach] and I were just brainstorming, and he said I should fight a man. I said I’d do it, and I wasn’t joking. I said I’ll fight anybody, at any time" ("Margaret McGregor and the Forgotten Battle ...").
Working in concert with Seattle fight promoter Bob Jarvis, Miller had rounded up a dubious opponent, Loi Chow of Vancouver, B.C., after another male fighter backed out. McGregor and Chow earned equal pay of $1,500 each.
"Chow, a 5ft 2ins former jockey, entered 'The Battle of the Sexes' with a winless two-fight pro record, no known amateur background, a 5ins height disadvantage and, at 123lbs, conceded five pounds in weight. Still, what Chow lacked in pedigree, he made up for in enthusiasm, and he threw himself into the role of pantomime villain. In front of the press, Chow stripped off his shirt to exhibit a short but powerful physique honed through wrestling and competitive weightlifting, muscles glistening with Vaseline. He pulled faces, performed one-armed push-ups, and pounded a heavy bag with gusto. He vowed to send McGregor 'back to the kitchen, where she belongs,' and warned her: 'I hit very, very hard'" ("Margaret McGregor and the Forgotten Battle ...").
In front of a capacity crowd of about 3,000, Chow barely landed a punch as McGregor vanquished him in four rounds, winning by unanimous decision. "McGregor earned a bit of history that may never be repeated – and more headlines than most women’s world title fights. Her fight ... went ahead without TV, but it generated plenty of press, much of it negative. The late Bert Sugar, former editor of The Ring, decried the 'carnival act.' It was labelled 'absolute madness' in the local Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper. The Associated Press said the bout was 'disgraceful' and a 'freak show' and wanted the result 'consigned to the dustbin'" ("Margaret McGregor and the Forgotten Battle ...").
Chow never fought again. McGregor fought just twice more, finishing with a career record of five wins, one loss. Forced to retire in 2000 after being diagnosed with hepatitis C, she still has fond memories of her historic victory. "I honestly feel it helped both women and men," she said in 2020. "It helped people to think a little differently. It changed old-fashioned attitudes. For me, it wasn’t a feminist issue; at the time I didn’t know any feminists, but afterwards I did hear they said I had done a lot for women [by winning that fight]. I appreciated that" ("Margaret McGregor and the Forgotten Battle ...").
