Anthony Joshua has bravely opened up about the passing of friends Sina Ghami and Kevin ‘Lateef’ Ayodele in an interview with talkSPORT.

In December last year, Joshua was involved in a tragic car accident on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in Nigeria, which killed two of his close friends, Ghami and Ayodele.

The pair were a key part of Joshua’s life and members of the British heavyweight’s team throughout his remarkable rise to boxing stardom.

Joshua took time away from the ring to grieve their passing, and has always ensured to post regular tributes ever since.

For the first time since the accident, AJ will return to the boxing ring to take on Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, this weekend.

It has been an emotional time for the boxing great, who has had to go through a turbulent journey to even get back into training.

But now ahead of his comeback fight, Joshua has explained how he will honour their lives and ensure he continues to live for them moving forward.

“One million, million per cent (memories of friends will motivate him),” Joshua told talkSPORT’s Spencer Oliver and Adam Smith.

“Obviously, you know it’s been very tough, you know the guys well. The guys were always part of my life. I always live for them anyway. They are part of my DNA. I’m a loyal soldier; these guys are part of my army. I always live for my friends and family regardless. But now it just emphasises the importance of being a second son to their Mums.

“But all of my team play a big part in support as it is an emotional time. It hurts even thinking about it. But if I put my personal life to one side, I just want to get better as a fighter. I still think I have so many mountains to climb, which keeps me busy in the gym.”

It has been a difficult period for Joshua, but it appears all roads will now lead to a long-awaited blockbuster with Tyson Fury.

A clash with the ‘Gypsy King’ would be Joshua’s most significant, and a chance to end an age-old rivalry and cement long-term bragging rights.

Meeting Fury has been a long-term objective for Joshua, but the finer details of the bout are still yet to get over the line.

And AJ has admitted he would rather the bout be in the UK, but is happy to let decisions be made beyond his control.

He continued: “Saturday is my world championship fight, I get the victory then I get my promotion.

“I am going to talk to my team, but it will likely be in the final quarter of the year.

“There’s so much speculation about the Fury fight, and it’s not even been announced yet.

“I don’t even control those types of things; I think it should be in the UK.

“We are both from there, and it would be good for the fans that have been supporting us since our debuts.

“But I let my team deal with that kind of stuff.”