Anthony Joshua has said he is putting his own emotions to the side to be "a good soldier" for the grieving parents of two of his close friends, who were killed in a car crash in Nigeria.
The fatal accident in December claimed the lives of Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, who were members of the boxer's team and long-term friends.
Joshua himself was left with minor injuries.
Speaking to the media for the first time since the crash, as he prepares to return to boxing, the 36-year-old said processing his own emotions would come at later stage.
"I have to put my emotions to the side because I focus on the parents," he said. "I really look at their parents, and I understand it must be most difficult for them."
Ghami was Joshua's strength and conditioning coach, while Ayodele was a trainer, described as being like a "twin brother" to the boxer.
For a period of time after surviving the crash, it was uncertain whether he would continue fighting.
However, the two-time world heavyweight champion is now due to take on Albanian Kristian Prenga, a relative unknown, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 25 July.
He is expected to face Tyson Fury for the first time at Wembley later in the year, although the details for that match – which would be the biggest fight in British boxing history – have yet to be announced.
'Boxing is therapeutic - it gives us purpose'
Joshua said he would dedicate his fighting to his late friends' parents.
"Everyone does it differently, but for me that's the best way of handling the situation," he said. "It's not about me; it's bigger than me.
"I'm just there for their parents. It's about being a good soldier for them because I've got to look after them."
"This is my purpose. Boxing is not only good for the competitive side of things, it's also quite therapeutic, it gives us fighters a lot of purpose and that's what it does for me."
Joshua paid tribute to his friends in a video posted in January, calling the two men "my left and my right".
He had been on holiday with the men when the crash happened, following his knockout victory over US YouTuber turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami on 19 December.
A 46-year-old man, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, has been charged with dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and attention, and driving without a valid national driver's licence in connection with the crash.
Joshua said he would dedicate his fighting to his late friends' parents.
"Everyone does it differently, but for me that's the best way of handling the situation," he said. "It's not about me; it's bigger than me.
"I'm just there for their parents. It's about being a good soldier for them because I've got to look after them."
"This is my purpose. Boxing is not only good for the competitive side of things, it's also quite therapeutic, it gives us fighters a lot of purpose and that's what it does for me."
Joshua paid tribute to his friends in a video posted in January, calling the two men "my left and my right".
He had been on holiday with the men when the crash happened, following his knockout victory over US YouTuber turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami on 19 December.
A 46-year-old man, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, has been charged with dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and attention, and driving without a valid national driver's licence in connection with the crash.
