Hippy Singmanee

Early career

Hippy was born into a poor family in Thung Song, Nakhon Si Thammarat province on August 14, 1967. Initially, he did not compete in Muay Thai matches and only performed the Wai kru pre-fight ceremonies. He would let his hair grow and only cut it when it became too long, hence people started calling him "hippie." It would later become his ring name (although it is more often anglicized as "Hippy"). At 10-years-old he began his Muay Thai training in his father's camp, the famous Singmanee gym, alongside his brothers Thungsong and Kompayak. Hippy had his first fight several months later, knocking out his opponent in the 3rd round. As a child, Hippy would become a star fighter in the Muay Thai circuit of southern Thailand, winning multiple regional titles.^[1][2][3]

Before fighting in Bangkok, Hippy encountered various skilled opponents in popular southern fighting venues including the Rangsit and Samrong stadiums. At 15-years-old, Hippy made his Bangkok debut by fighting Chatchai Sasakul in 1982. As Hippy had a highly successful run beforehand, he believed that Sasakul was an easy matchup. Sasakul's movement in the ring made it difficult for Hippy to fight him, resulting a draw, although Hippy believed that Sasakul should have won. After Hippy adjusted his fighting style to beat him in the rematch, as well as beating "The Angel Twins" Boonlong and Boonlai Sor.Thanikul, the Thai audiences took notice to Hippy's skill. Around this time he would be picked up by the famous Onesongchai promotion.^[3]

Fighting style

Hippy was a powerful Muay Femur or rope-a-dope fighter who specialized in head kicks and elbows. While most Muay Femur fighters prefer to strike in order to control their opponents, Hippy also preferred to hurt his opponents as much as he could, utilizing an uncommon kicking style to generate more power^[4] and using elbows that often cut his opponent's faces. Hippy's favorite technique was head kicking which he used to earn KO victories^[5] or knockdowns. He employed the use of head movement to dodge punches as well as kicks.

Most of the non-powerful strikes Hippy threw served as intimidation so he could pressure forward, a tactic that Hippy also excelled at on top of being a Muay Femur. Near the end of a round, when fighters begin to tire, Hippy would take advantage of his opponent's exhaustion by using more head kicks to try to KO his opponent or resort to knee exchanges in clinches. Similar to Saenklai Sit Kru Od, while Hippy was a rope-a-dope fighter he would also brawl with his opponents as needed.^[4]

Elite career

Hippy earned the prestigious Lumpinee Stadium Mini Flyweight title (104 lbs, later changed to 105 lbs)^[1] in 1986 and successfully defended it against "The Top Master" Karuhat Sor.Supawan. In a 2023 interview, Hippy admitted that at around this time his fame and success grew to the point that he became overconfident with himself, stopped training frequently, and began underestimating his opponents. Because of this Hippy would suffer his first two KO losses back-to-back against Langsuan Panyuthaphum and Maewpa Sun Miskawan, causing him to be stripped of his 105 lbs title. Hippy reclaimed the title via elbow KO in the widely anticipated fight card featuring the boxing match between Khaosai Galaxy and Kongthoranee Payakaroon in 1988, perpetuating his popularity. He would be labeled by the Muay Siam magazine as "The South's Finest Fighter" and "The Genius of the South."^[3][2]

Hippy's prime lasted from 1987 to 1992. During this time he was considered the greatest fighter in the 105-108 lbs divisions, going so far as to win the Lumpinee Junior Flyweight title (108 lbs) against Karuhat Sor.Supawan and defending it against "The Ring Genius" Namkabuan Nongkeepahuyuth. For winning a fight against his most difficult opponent "The Death Mask" Veerapol Sahaprom, Hippy received 120,000 baht, the highest purse of his career which was also in the range of purses that were given to yodmuay (top fighters) at the time.^[6] In 1989, French-Algerian fighter Jaïd Seddak fought Hippy for the 53 kg Muay Thai World title. Although Hippy won, the two became friends afterward. Hippy's younger brother Kompayak Singmanee also became a notable stadium champion and the two became famous in Thailand as Muay Thai fighters.^[1][5]

Hippy admitted that he started declining as his physical condition began to worsen after his prime.^[1] Despite this, he was still able to secure victories against elite fighters Chaiyai Sitkaruhat and Sod Looknongyangtoy, among others. Hippy had his final Muay Thai fight against Laemsing Por.Nitiwat wherein he lost by decision. He was matched up against Burklerk Pinsinchai but they did not fight. Hippy's successful championship fights against Karuhat Sor.Supawan and Saeksan Sitjomthong are considered to be the best fights in his career.^[2] He would be remembered for being a highly successful fighter in his rise to fame before and during the golden era of Muay Thai as well for his ability to defeat larger opponents who often were from weight classes above his own. His admirers often pointed out his ability to combine power with technique in his fighting style.^[7]

Retirement and later years

After retirement Hippy became a trainer in the Bangkok where he now owns the Town in Town Muay Thai gym AKA the Por.Suwan gym. He also works as a Muay Thai promoter for the Cherchu Thai (เชิดชูไทย) organization in his native province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. He is married and has 8 children.^[2] One of his sons, Hippynoi Singmanee, is also a Muay Femur and is a trainer at the Gladiator Muay Thai gym in Australia.^[8] His ring name, Hippynoi, translates to "little Hippy."

Hippy cited Poot Lorlek, Vicharnnoi Porntawee, Samart Payakaroon, Kongthoranee Payakaroon, and Nokweed Davy as his top 5 greatest Muay Thai fighters.^[7] Hippy believes Chatchai Sasakul to be the most skilled fighter he has ever faced, additionally claiming him to be more skilled than Somrak Khamsing after taking into account their achievements in boxing.^[3]