Billy ‘the Kid’ Degoumois steps back in to Muay Thai fighting ring

Popular regional Qld boxer Billy Degoumois, whose fighting career ended with a 28 win record from 36 bouts, is stepping back into the ring after more than a decade away from the sport.

Billy “the kid” Degoumois stellar 28-win Muay Thai kickboxing career is on the verge of being reborn with the veteran Gympie region fighter to make his grand return to the ring at Brisbane.

Billy “the kid” Degoumois’ stellar 28-win Muay Thai kickboxing career is on the verge of being reborn with the Gympie region fighter to make his grand return to the ring at Brisbane.

The 45-year-old veteran of the sport is making his return at Brisbane after a 12-year hiatus having fought his last bout back at the end of 2012.

Degoumois lost the fight, a down note to an otherwise brilliant career which included 28 wins, eight knockouts, and only eight losses.

He said the final loss simply came down his not having the time to train and commit, with “other stuff” going on his life at the time.

“I wasn’t training properly,” he said.

Degoumois said Saturday he was feeling “pretty good” ahead of his fight with Jordan “Axeman” Reid.

Billy “the kid” Degoumois stellar 28-win Muay Thai kickboxing career is on the verge of being reborn with the veteran Gympie region fighter to make his grand return to the ring at Brisbane.

A win in his bout would put him in rare air for the sport across Australia by securing him a title in each of the past three decades.

He said a win by Reid would no doubt be a “stepping stone” in his career.

Elliott Reen (left), who is trained by Degoumois, is fighting his own bout at Brisbane along with his mentor.

Degoumois said he had kept a foot in the sport even after he stepped away.

Having once run a major gym at Gympie, he still kept a private training area at his Amamoor home for a “select” few fighters.

One of them, Elliott Reen, was stepping into the ring at for his own fight against Declan Corcoran.

Degoumois and Reid at the weigh in.

Degoumois said the sport had “changed a lot” since his first fight in 1996 at age 17.

A lot of new gyms had started up, and felt a number had stepped away from the traditions of the sport, he said.

He believed it may have also been tougher back in his day.

“I don’t think it’s as hard as it used to be,” Degoumois said.

The night’s action at Bracken Ridge starts at 4pm.

Degoumois said his fight, in the middle of the docket, was expected to start about 9pm.