Shinnishiki

Shinnishiki - 新錦 (born February 10, 1970) is a former American professional sumo wrestler from Carson, California. He made his debut in July 1988 and last wrestled for Takasago stable. His highest rank was sandanme 10 and he retired in September 1990.

## **Early Life**

Vincent Devoux was born in Carson, California, on February 10th, 1970. His father was a baptist minister and he was the second youngest of six other brothers (Paul, Danny, David, Roscoe, David, Robert). He and his brothers began playing music in his father's Baptist Church. However, growing up in the rough neighborhoods of California, he joined gangs as a survival tactic and he and his brothers were members of the West Side Pirus (a subset of the notorious Blood gang).

In 1987, his youngest brother, Robert, was killed in a gang-related shooting. This became a turning point for him and his brothers, so they moved to Japan to live with their cousin, Konishiki, who was a successful sumo wrestler at the time. However, Vincent remained in California to complete his high school education. He attended Carson High School where he played football. Upon graduation from high school, Konishiki picked him up in Los Angeles and recruited him for sumo.

## **Career**

He joined Konishiki's Takasago stable in July 1988 and was given the shikona "Shinnishiki" (新錦). In his first tournament he produced an impressive 6-1 record, but lost to fellow American Sentoryu in a playoff for the yusho. Nonetheless, he followed with another impressive 6-1 record. He produced his first losing record in July 1989, but bounced back with more winning records. He reached a career high rank of sandanme 10 in May 1990. However, he sat out of the following three tournaments and his retirement was announced after the September 1990 tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

### **Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.**

After retirement he returned back to Los Angeles and joined the hip-hop band known Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. which was composed of his brothers. They had already found much success in the rap industry and were pioneers for Samoan hip hop artists. His nickname in the group was "Gawtti". He didn't officially join the group until 2000 when his brother David Devoux left the group. He was credited in the albums *Mafia Lifestyle*, *West Koasta Nostra*, and *Business As Usual*.

### **Acting Career**

Vincent and his brother David appeared in a *Fame* (1982 TV series) episode when they were young. Vincent Devoux landed a small but memorable role in the 2003 film The Italian Job, where he acted as Skinny Pete who is an underground mercenary arms dealer.

## **Personal Life**

* The day before the Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. band were to board the bus for the 1992 Lollapalooza tour, Vincent was throwing out the trash at the front of his house, but was caught off guard, and was shot at close range six times with a .45; doctors said he survived only because of his size. The assailant was then immediately shot to death by Vincent's brother Roscoe, which earned him the nickname "Murder One".
* Vincent Devoux's weight increased from 400 Ib (during the time he was in sumo) to 500 Ib by the prime of his music career. As of 2020 he has slimmed down.
* He still keeps in close contact with his cousin and stablemate Konishiki.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 45-25-21/70 (14 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 24-18-14/42 (8 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 15-6-7/21 (4 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 6-1/7 (1 basho)

## **Gallery**

Shinnishiki is recruited into sumo by ozeki Konishiki (c. 1988)Shinnishiki is measured upon joining sumo (c. 1988)Shinnishiki pushes out Kitano in maezumo (c. 1988)Shinnishiki during his time in maezumo (c. 1988)Shinnishiki performs chores with Wakahanada (c. 1988)Shinnishiki congratulates fellow American Sentoryu (c. 1988)

## **Sources**

* Shinnishiki Rikishi Information
* FRANK 35: Samoa - Konishiki Interview
* Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. Wikipedia Article
* Boo-Yea T.R.I.B.E. Documentary