Moose Jaw Muay Thai fighter brings home silver medal from competition in Italy
The 19-year-old returned from Verona, Italy this week, where he won a silver medal in the C Class -91-kilogram category. A contingent of family and friends were in Moose Jaw at Mac the Moose on Friday to celebrate his accomplishment.
'It's overwhelming because I don't know how to act about it, but you know I love it,' Billy said. 'I love seeing my whole family, these are the people that got me here. These are the people that tell me to keep going, you got this, good work kid. Or after my match they said, 'You did amazing.'
Proud would be an appropriate word for all those gathered on Friday. Cameron's father Riley Billy, chief among them. The elder Billy got emotional when asked about his son's silver medal triumph.
'Oh my God, I'm glad I was at home watching the fights by myself. I was screaming and yelling at the TV when he raised his hand on his first victory, I was there, sorry, it's pride,' he said.
Riley told CTV News that he is also proud of how hard Cameron worked to get to this point in his Muay Thai career, including driving five hours to Winnipeg to in the early hours of the morning to try out for Team Canada.
'Before the training every day, he would go to work, do his 10-hour shift, come home and do another three or four hours of training. As he got into the international fight when he qualified at Winnipeg, training intensified,' he said.
Cameron Billy
Cameron Billy, a Muy Thai fighter from Moose Jaw, has returned from a world competition with a silver medal. (Jacob Carr / CTV News)
'He went six days a week plus his full-time job. So that's dedication to a sport. And as a parent, that makes us so proud to see him being motivated in something that he loves without us pushing him,' he added.
Riley, and Cameron's mother Sheila, are the young Muay Thai fighter's number one fans. Sheila told CTV News that there is no greater joy than watching your child spread their own wings and succeed with confidence.
The silver medal for Cameron on the world stage was not his only achievement, as he got his first knockout in a match.
'He caught me with a big shot actually, I caught his kick, spinning elbow got me right on the chin. And then my coach said, 'You have to make him pay for that.' And then the second round comes in and it just happened. I was just going, put my knees to work and then put my elbow and he just dropped,' Cameron explained.
That knockout prompted an after the match conversation with Cameron's ecstatic father.
'We were just like, 'Did you see it, Dad? Did you see it?' I'm like, 'Son, oh my God, look at that man.' I'm like, 'Wow you knocked him out, I think your name is Bam-Bam Cam' hahaha,' Riley said.
Cameron admitted that it was bittersweet to not win the gold medal, but also claimed he was proud to be the only Team Canada representative from Saskatchewan.
'That feels so good, we were outside the arena in Verona and everybody's like okay Manitoba take their picture, B.C. take their picture and there's big groups of them. And I was like, okay well Saskatchewan, and posed up, so it felt good,' he recalled.
Next on the docket for Cameron, who trains at Control Jiu Jitsu in Moose Jaw and spars at Siam Boxing in Regina, he is looking to set up a fight in Calgary in October. He is also looking to get to Thailand, to continue to hone his craft and experience the 'motherland' of Muay Thai.
Cameron told CTV News that the goal is to one day become a Muay Thai world champion. A silver medal at 19 in a global 18+ competition isn't a bad start.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
19 minutes ago
- CTV News
Local hockey league says ‘there's hope' after being granted one more year to play at Toronto arena
the puck will drop once again at least for one more season, as the local hockey association works to find a new home. Walking through the halls at Weston Lions Arena, Lesley Bannard expresses relief. It was feared that the arena located near Lawrence Avenue West and Weston Road had seen its last game, and the minor hockey organization she runs would fall apart. Now, she says, 'There's hope for us.' 'There's hope past this year, which is amazing. The last time he talked, there was no hope past September, potentially,' Bannard said. Lesley Bannard Lesley Bannard speaks to CTV News Toronto inside Weston Lions Arena. (CTV News) When CTV News first reported on the story last month, Bannard had been told there would no longer be an ice rink at the arena when Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment transforms it into an MLSE LaunchPad, which would offer free sports programs to local youth. The first MLSE LaunchPad, located in the downtown neighbourhood of Moss Park, caters mostly to sports played on a court. Back in June, Bannard said, 'All we're asking for is a chance. A chance to survive.' The Weston Minor Hockey League had been wondering why they were being pushed out of an arena they had called home since it was built 75 years ago. Weston Lions Arena The ice hockey rink inside Weston Lions Arena. (CTV News) There are over 100 players in their house league. Hunter Williams is one who began playing this past season. The seven-year-old expressed sadness over the potential loss, saying, 'I want to play one more season here, though.' After the story was reported, Bannard says community support skyrocketed. She was offered a meeting on July 2. Weston Lions Arena Weston Lions Arena is pictured here. (CTV News) Bannard shared that after meeting with MLSE and the city, the league was granted one more season at the arena. She added that the Weston Minor Hockey League has also been working with the city to find a new home for the 2026-27 season. Final plans for the Weston Lions Arena location have not been revealed. Councillor Frances Nunziata said in a statement, 'I, the city, and Weston Lions all look forward to being able to provide more details once plans are solidified this coming fall.' In a separate statement, the MLSE Foundation said, 'A key part of this process is working diligently with the City of Toronto, local councillors and the community through public consultations to ensure any existing programming, if applicable, will have a suitable alternative location and that the selected space creates opportunity for thousands of local youth to access sport.' Bannard says she would love to see an ice arena in the final design, 'but as long as the community has their say, that's what matters to me.' Lesley Bannard A young Lesley Bannard wearing the Weston Lions hockey jersey is seen in this undated photo. (Supplied) The history of Weston Lions Arena is intertwined with Bannard's life. She played here as a child and is now a coach. Bannard was even married at centre ice and soon her child will be old enough to skate. Lesley Bannard wedding Lesley Bannard gets married at centre ice inside Weston Lions Arena. (Supplied) If this is the end, Bannard sees this season as a chance to say goodbye. 'To have one more year staring at this roof, staring at the gondolas with the big logo on it and staring up at our banner hanging up in the corner there, it's just going to be a really special year.'
National Post
2 hours ago
- National Post
Roughriders Mailbag: West favourites? Negotiation list? 'Drive-ending' bombs?
Welcome to another edition of the Roughriders Mailbag where we answer questions readers have about the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Article content After a 4-0 start to the 2025 season, the Green and White have wrapped up their first bye week of the season and are set to host the Calgary Stampeders on Friday. Article content Article content Before we look ahead to that game, let's answer some reader-submitted questions surrounding the Roughriders entering Week 6: Article content At this point, yes, the Roughriders are the West Division favourites. Especially after what went down on Thursday night. Article content In fact, the Roughriders might have increased their odds of being the favourites without even playing this week. Article content At 4-0, the Roughriders have gotten off to a good start and look to be contenders this season after falling in the West final last year against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Article content As for Winnipeg, after a 3-0 start, the Blue and Gold lost 37-16 to the Calgary Stampeders on Thursday night in a game that certainly didn't make the five-time defending West Division champions look like they have in recent years. Article content While it's a long season, at this point, Saskatchewan is the favourite followed by Winnipeg. Or would Calgary now be second considering they are also 3-1 and just beat Winnipeg. When B.C. has a healthy Nathan Rourke, they will be better. And then there's Edmonton. Article content While Saskatchewan may be considered the favourite, since the Bombers are five-time defending West division champs, all roads lead through Winnipeg when it comes to claiming the West Division. I get that it's a new team every year but Saskatchewan needs to find a way to beat Winnipeg in the playoffs, which is something they haven't been able to do in years. Article content The playoffs will decide who advances to the Grey Cup but there are a few measuring-stick games coming up for the Riders. After Calgary in Week 6, the Riders head to B.C. in Week 7. Saskatchewan will then host Edmonton before visiting the Montreal Alouettes on Aug. 2, which could be a big test for the Riders. Article content Article content Following games against Hamilton and Calgary, we then finally get the Riders-Bombers matchup on Labour Day followed by the rematch the following week, which is a series that could determine who finishes first in the division. Article content By then, we'll have a better indication of who the favourite is, but at this point, the Roughriders are definitely the favourites. And they even gained some steam during the bye week.
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Jays beat Angels 4-3 in 10 innings as Clement bunt causes chaos for visitors
Los Angeles Angels' Jo Adell (7) slides safely into second base with a double ahead of the tag from Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Andres Gimenez in fifth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Friday, July 4, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jon Blacker TORONTO — A throwing error that travelled down the first-base line from Los Angeles Angels reliever Sam Bachman on an Ernie Clement bunt gave the Toronto Blue Jays a 4-3 walk-off win on Friday. With runners on first and second and none out, Clement bunted to the third-base side of the mound in the 10th inning scoring Myles Straw. Bachman threw high and the Blue Jays had their season-high sixth win in a row before 30,119 at Rogers Centre. Bachman (1-2) took the loss, while Chad Green (3-0) pitched the top of the 10th and registered the win. The Blue Jays sent seven players to the plate in a three-run sixth. Will Wagner scored on Andres Gimenez's single to left and the latter scored on Bo Bichette's single to left. George Springer scored on Zach Neto's error. Toronto starter Eric Lauer lost his magic in the seventh when Mike Trout and Taylor Ward singled to end his evening. Reliever Nick Sandlin was greeted with a 431-foot homer from Jo Adell to left centre for his 19th. In Lauer's six-plus innings, he was on the hook for two runs on three hits and a walk with six strikeouts. Lauer and his Los Angeles counterpart Kyle Hendricks were engaged in a pitchers' duel through five innings. Springer, who remained hot with a 2-for-4 game, broke through for Toronto's first hit, a one-out line-drive single to left field in the fourth inning. Adell led off the fifth inning for the Angels with a double into the left-field corner. Hendricks departed after 5 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on four hits, no walks and two strikeouts. TAKEAWAYS Angels: The Angels have pushed themselves into contention for a wild-card position. They began the day only 1 1/2 games behind the Seattle Mariners for the third and final American League spot. Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had the night off to rest and recover after fouling a pitch off his right foot in the sixth inning on Thursday. KEY MOMENT An error from Angels shortstop Neto on an Addison Barger bouncer up the middle went from a possible double play to another run and a 3-0 Toronto lead. KEY STAT Springer has batted 22-for-43 (. 512) with four homers, 19 RBIs, 15 runs scored, six walks and three stolen bases in his last 12 games. UP NEXT Toronto's Max Scherzer (0-0) faces Jack Kochanowicz (3-8) in Saturday's middle game of the three-game series against the Angels. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2025. Tim Wharnsby, The Canadian Press
