London promoter ordered to pay up

London promoter ordered to pay up

Former London, Ontario wrestling promoter Kevin Oakley, has been ordered to pay $8,065.90 in restitution to Ontario college and university student councils he misled.

Oakley promoted under the Universal Championship Wrestling name.

He was convicted of five counts under the provincial Business Practices Act for holding himself out as a wrestling event promoter. He was not authorized by the Ontario Athletics Commissioner to organize such events.

Provincial court in London heard that Kevin Oakley also advertised that some of the wrestlers participating at events he contracted with the student organizations to stage would be from the World Wrestling Federation. This was not the case.

Oakley, who pled guilty to the charges, has been ordered to make restitution totalling $8,065.90 between August 2001 and January 2003, to student organizations at four Ontario institutes of higher learning. He is also restricted from promoting wrestling for two years.

During a brief in-ring wrestling career, Oakley wrestled as Mad Dog Mike Iron.

"We hope this case will serve as a reminder to charities and or other not-for-profit organizations to check with our office to ensure wrestling, boxing and kickboxing promoters are licensed before they sign a contract," said athletics commissioner Ken Hayashi in a press release. "To protect everyone concerned, including charities, participants in the sports and the paying public, only licensed promoters are permitted to operate in Ontario."

The Athletics Commissioner licenses promoters of wrestling events under the authority of the Athletics Control Act. The legislation contains regulations designed to ensure the safety of participants and to protect the interests of the public when attending boxing, wrestling or kickboxing events in Ontario.

-- SLAM! Wrestling

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