James Tindale is preparing to set foot in the boxing ring and face fellow reality star Callum Izzard this weekend.
The Geordie Shore star, 32, has been training incredibly hard for the match – but the fight has a deeper meaning to James than others as he's fighting in memory of his beloved father Alan.
As he announced the event in October on his Instagram page, James wrote in the caption: "This one’s for you dad".
James' dad Alan died suddenly at the age of 74 in October – leaving the Geordie Shore star in shock and heartbroken.
Speaking to the Mirror, James explained how Alan suffered a heart attack before he was rushed to hospital.
James said: "He had a heart attack, unexpectedly. Didn't have any like scares or problems before, totally out of the blue – fit and healthy. And then he went into hospital and when he was in hospital, he had an even bigger heart attack and then went into cardiac arrest and got put into a coma to try and recover and just never recovered."
James has been flooded with support by friends, family and followers since sharing the heartbreaking news.
Since the loss of his beloved father, the Geordie Shore lad has been focussing on the upcoming boxing match, which takes place at The Willows London on Saturday November 26.
James signed up for the fight just three days before his dad died and he said the training has kept his "mind busy" during the "worst few weeks of his life".
The reality star, who is also a personal trainer, said of his beloved dad Alan: "My dad was my idol. He's taught me everything I know in life. He's been more than just a dad to us, he's been a really good friend."
"I still don't feel like it's fully sunk in," he added. "I feel like I've accepted it but, I don't still don't really want to."
James heartbreakingly added: "I think it's one of them things where it's never really gonna be better, I don't think it's ever gonna get better.
"I think it's just you learn to live without them. I wouldn't wish it on anyone and for me, yeah, hands down, it's been the worst few weeks of my life."
Throughout his grief, James has used boxing and training as a tool to help him keep his "mind busy".
He said: "I must say now that I'm doing the boxing it's kept my mind busy and I've got a routine where I'm training hard. I'm physically in the best shape of my life, mentally, as I say, I'm with a good group of lads. I'm not just like sat in the house or moping about I'm being very proactive and I've got good people around us and I'm training my a** off."
"At first I wasn't sure," James said of the match. "I signed the boxing fight about three days before my dad passed away."
James said he's been praised by people around him for continuing with the match against Ibiza Weekender star Callum but, the reality star added: "I just know if I wasn't doing this, I would be in a lot of a worse place.
"The boxing is keeping me going. I know my dad was really excited for me to do it so I'm dedicating it to my dad and that's pushing me through every session."
Despite his recent heartache, James isn't shying away from getting stuck in and feels more than prepared for the big day.
"I've had my nose burst a few names," James said. "I'm taking it very, very seriously.
"I think it's the best way I could have prepped for it and, with everything going on with my personal life, it's just helped me massively."
He added: "I know for a fact when I get into the ring on the 26th I've done every single thing that I can possibly do and I'm feeling very confident going into it."
Tickets for James and Callum's upcoming boxing match on Saturday November 26 are available here
