British-Nigerian boxing star Anthony Joshua has pledged to support the families of two of his late friends who tragically d!ed in a car crash in Nigeria.

The former heavyweight world champion expressed his grief over the loss and vowed to be a “good soldier” for their parents, promising to stand by them.

Joshua takes on little-known Albanian Kristian Prenga in Jeddah on July 25 in his first appearance since surviving the fatal road accident which claimed the lives of Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.

Ghami and Ayodele were members of Joshua’s team as well as long-term friends for a period of time.

Speaking ahead of his fight, Joshua said he has put his own grief aside in order to focus on supporting the parents of his late friends.

“I have to put my emotions to the side because I focus on the parents, if I’m honest,” Joshua said, having pledged to do everything he can to support Ghami and Ayodele’s families, financially and beyond. “My emotions can come at a later stage. I really look at the parents and understand it’s been most difficult for them. So, I don’t make it about me, I make it about them — the mums and the dads of my two friends.”

“Everyone does it differently, but for me that’s the best way of handling the situation. 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, but it’s also quite therapeutic; it gives us fighters a lot of purpose, and that’s what it does for me.”