Hippy Singmanee

Pichet Chutong (; born August 14, 1967), known professionally as Hippy Singmanee , is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter. He is a former three-time Lumpinee Stadium champion across two weight classes who was famous in the 1980s and 1990s. Nicknamed "The Genius of the South", he is often regarded as one of the greatest and most talented fighters in the history of Muay Thai. He was especially praised for defeating larger opponents as well as his powerful, technical style.

Biography & career

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.

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. and using elbows that often cut his opponent's faces. Hippy's favorite technique was head kicking which he used to earn KO victories 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. 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.

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. 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. 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.

Titles & honours

Lumpinee Stadium 1986 Lumpinee Stadium Mini Flyweight (105 lbs) Champion One successful title defense 1988 Lumpinee Stadium Mini Flyweight (105 lbs) Champion 1988 Lumpinee Stadium Light Flyweight (108 lbs) Champion Two successful title defenses

Fight record

MC Television 2022 : Muay Thai Fighter X - At OTF Stadium Hua Hin Prachuap Khiri Khan (Produced By ) Live every Saturday from 18:00 a.m.-20:00 p.m. On Air JKN18, YouTube:JKN18 Starting Saturday, February 19, 2022 – present (together with แบนท่าพระ (เดชา คูรัตนเวช), Kittisak Thabthong (กิตติศักดิ์ ทาบทอง))