Even though I’m not from Canada and not familiar with the situation and laws there, this turns out into an interesting enough discussion to do some research on.

Found this on:http://legalizemma.50megs.com It’s a piece about “Why isn't MMA legal in Ontario?” but I hope it covers what we discuss here aswell. Maybe this explains the discussed law, otherwise the Canadian Axers will surely correct me. :) Also found: http://www.efc.ca/pages/law/cc/cc-text.html, but it didn’t gave access to section 83

Anyway hope it helps a bit in this discussion.

Prize Fights
83(1) Engaging in prize fight
83. (1) Every one who
(a) engages as a principal in a prize fight,
(b) advises, encourages or promotes a prize fight, or
(c) is present at a prize fight as an aid, second, surgeon, umpire,
backer or reporter, is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.
83(2) Definition of "prize fight"
(2) In this section, "prize fight" means an encounter or fight with
fists or hands between two persons who have met for that purpose by
previous arrangement made by or for them, but a boxing contest between
amateur sportsmen, where the contestants wear boxing gloves of not
less than one hundred and forty grams each in mass, or any boxing
contest held with the permission or under the authority of an athletic
board or commission or similar body established by or under the
authority of the legislature of a province for the control of sport
within the province, shall be deemed not to be a prize fight.

Commission
Description:
The Athletic Commissioner's Office administers the Athletics Control Act and is responsible for the proper conduct of all professional combative sports in Ontario. The commission maintains liaison with community centers and arenas, and issues licenses to professional boxers, kick boxers (full-contact karate), wrestlers and all officials involved in these sports.