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Artur Beterbiev revealed he almost quit professional boxing after the death of his father as the Russian fighter prepares to face Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed light-heavyweight championship of the world.
The father of the WBC, IBF and WBO champion died in 2001, 14 years before his professional debut, in a car accident pushing Beterbiev's life off course in tough economic times following the collapse of the USSR.
So, the then-16-year-old took up a job as an attendant at a petrol station and admitted he no longer thought about becoming a boxing champion as he looked to provide for his family by becoming the new man of the household.
"At the time, I wasn't thinking about becoming a global star," Beterbiev told media. "My dreams weren't that big at the time. If anything, I was dreaming about vacations and having time off school.
"But, I knew I had to knuckle down and earn some money for my family. So, I took up that job at the petrol station and did boxing on the side."
But Beterbiev managed to continue to be successful in and outside of the ring, and in 2006 he gold at the European Championships before going on to claim additional golds in the World Championships, World Cup and Europeans again.
He even competed in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, but suffered a defeat in the Round of 16 to a local Chinese fighter which was controversially received by fans and critics.
After 300 amateur fights, he then made his professional debut in 2013 against Christian Cruz and won by a second-round TKO in Canada, starting his journey to his 20-0-0 record and light-heavyweight championship.
Beterbiev doesn't feel dad's death stopped him
Beterbiev, who has recovered from a meniscus injury, will step into the ring on October 12 to face another Russian in the form of Bivol, who currently holds the WBC belt and comprehensively defeated Canelo Alvarez previously.
But does he feel he would be a better fighter if his father wasn't struck by the fatal car accident 23 years ago, despite the chance to make destiny once again?
"I am a big believer in what doesn't kill you makes you stronger', Beterbiev added. "People have different roads to the top.
"Some people have it easier and some people have it harder. There's no denying what I went through was tough. But, if those things didn't happen to me, I wouldn't be here today. I wouldn't be the fighter I am today."