INTERVIEW & PHOTOGRAPHY David K Shields
FASHION Christy Quilliam
GROOMING Sara Allsop at Dharma Salon for Shark Beauty
20-year-old ROMAN VINEY speaks with the kind of honesty that sets apart true competitors, acknowledging the sacrifices he must make and the relentless grind required to reach the top. But it’s only what you would expect from someone with such determination and drive to succeed. there’s an undeniable fire in his words – a belief in himself, his team, and the steps he must take to one day stand on boxing’s biggest stages.
Opening image: ADRION ATELIER vest at The Shelter. Above: J’AKE coat. COMPANY OF STRANGERS shorts at the Shelter. CONVERSE hi-top sneakers. NIKE socks.
DESPITE HIS YOUTH, Roman Viney’s achievements already signal a bright future, claiming the title of South Pacific Champion in the Super Light Heavyweight category in Melbourne recently. With a relentless work ethic and his sights set on the biggest stages in the sport, Viney is well underway on his trajectory to the success he so desires – a testament to both his own drive for excellence and the unwavering support of his crew. With his father Doug – himself a former champion – in his corner as both mentor and coach, training out of the renowned City Kickboxing Gym alongside elite MMA fighters, UFC contenders and top-tier martial artists. He’s sharpening his skills beyond the realms of those associated solely with traditional boxing, equipping himself with all he needs to be a well-rounded and dangerous competitor. Surrounded by some of the best – and most celebrated – minds in combat sports, Viney understands success isn’t just about his physical strength, but the mental toughness, discipline, and resilience that’s required to achieve his dreams and become the winner he is determined to be.
BEACH BRAINS trousers
I was doing MMA, wrestling, jujitsu, kickboxing – all that stuff– but whenever I would do a boxing class and I was around all the boxing boys, I just found it more fun, more natural, and more fluent: I like to keep things how I want to do them. I don’t really try to copy other people’s ways of doing things, or their set-up – I just do what I want to do.
DRKSHDW RICK OWENS t-shirt at The Shelter. NINETEEN99 shorts. CONVERSE hi-top sneakers.
You pick up things from some MMA people who might have a different style stand-up wise to your usual boxer – little habits they have, or little tricks that they do with the boxing aspects, because in MMA it’s all completely different to kickboxing, or to traditional, pure boxing. It’s kind of cool – you can pick and choose from everyone’s different styles and apply it to your game, and it works both ways because I feel like the MMA guys and the kickboxers pick up some good boxing skills from me too.
KIRI NATHAN paki.
I like to rep my culture whenever I can, but really outside the ring I don’t really have anything going on at the moment – boxing, and the training for it, is all consuming for now. The biggest takeaway I’ve had from it is just not taking everything too seriously really. I think that applies to me everywhere now; in the ring, in the training, out of training, out of the gym – you know, learning that nothing’s that serious.
ADRION ATELIER jacket & J’AKE STUDIOS vest at The Shelter. BEACH BRAINS trousers. CONVERSE hi-top sneakers.
It’s about having lived my best life, and not having taken anything too seriously. I think you should just do whatever it is that you want to do and not leave anything out that you may live to regret later – live your life in the now.
Y-3 trousers at The Shelter
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