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What: “Inside Story: Fight Like a Girl”

Where: A&E; Network

When: Tonight, 10-11 p.m.

If you’re expecting a show that matches the quality of “Biography,” A&E;’s outstanding signature series, you may be disappointed. But if you’re curious about women’s boxing, a growing sport, and whether it’s legitimate, this show is worth watching.

One plus is that the producers don’t try to tackle the topic of women’s boxing in general. Instead, they focus on two fighters and one fight and provide an in-depth look. The problem is, this could have been done in a more tightly edited show. It tends to drag at times.

The fighters are Kathy “The Wildcat” Collins of Long Island, N.Y., and Leah “The Kitten” Mellinger of Lancaster, Pa. Naturally, their fight in Atlantic City, N.J., is billed as a “Catfight.”

Both are likable, in different ways, and both take boxing very seriously.

Collins, unbeaten and the holder of three titles, says, “That type of person at your family picnic that you can’t even play a game of cards with before they lose their mind, that’s the type of person that boxes. I mean, that’s me. I can’t play a game of scrabble with anyone in my family because if I lose I get [mad]. I’m unwilling to lose.”

Says Mellinger, a former beauty queen: “I love the feeling of winning.”

Collins and Mellinger have fought before, in Collins’ hometown, and Collins won a controversial decision. Mellinger and her manager believe Mellinger won the fight.

Setting the stage for the rematch seems to take forever. The fight, when it finally comes off, is close. It is decided by a split decision, even though at one point Collins wants to quit. ESPN2, which televised the fight, has microphones in the corners and Collins can be heard saying, “I want to stop.” But she continues, and comes out firing.

Just before the announcement of the decision, viewers are asked to visit the A&E; Web site, www.AandE.com, and answer the question: Should women be in the ring? We could have done without this.

But overall the show should give viewers an appreciation of women boxers. They truly are athletes that train hard and want to win. And they can throw a punch.