Dillian Whyte

The Kiwi heavyweight made his first appearance in six months in Providence, Rhode island on Saturday (Sunday NZ time) and delivered a one-sided 10th-round TKO victory over Australian veteran Alex Leapai.

The bout was the first of a three-fight deal with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing and Parker confirmed his intention to get back get back in the ring as soon as possible as he looks to make another run at the title.

The 30-year-old has been touted as a potential 2019 opponent for IBF, WBA and WBO belt-holder Joshua, though WBC champion Deontay Wilder is his priority for an April 13 fight at Wembley.

Whyte beat former WBO champion Joseph Parker last July to enhance his claim for a title shot and he insisted it is inevitable he will get another chance to take down Joshua, who won their previous encounter with a seventh-round knockout in December 2015.

Whyte appeared to be in line to face one of the leading names in the decision after defeating Joseph Parker, but Fury and Wilder are both now otherwise engaged after agreeing to face each other, most likely in Las Vegas in either November or December.

The Jamaican-born fighter has repeatedly taken to his social media pages in recent days to criticise the duo, however, prompting a response from Fury when he posted a video on Instagram on Sunday of a mock kiss between the former unified world champion and WBC title holder Wilder.

As a combination, the two heavyweights put on a show worthy of topping the pay-per-view bill at the O2 in London, their contrasting methods meshing together in a way that left the outcome always in doubt right through to the closing seconds.

Now, though, they will head in different directions. It was billed as a must-win for both; triumph and a world-title shot was an apparent certainty - lose and risk falling out of the picture, at least for the foreseeable future.

Home favourite Whyte dropped his opponent twice but had to climb off the canvas himself in the 12th round, forcing him to hold on for the final bell to secure a unanimous points decision in a pulsating main event at the O2 in London on Saturday.

However, while all three judges were in agreement over the winner, scores of 113-112, 115-110 and 114-111 demonstrated the close nature of the bout.

Parker told Whyte to expect "less movement" and "more punches" in their bout at the O2 Arena, which could see the winner land a world title fight.

Brixton's Whyte dismissed the claim, warning the former WBO champion that "if he comes to fight like he says, he gets knocked out".

"Let's see what he brings," the 30-year-old said.

"I've been in the game long enough to know talk and action are two different things," Whyte, who knocked out Australia's Lucas Browne in his most recent outing, said.

Parker will face Whyte in London this Sunday in his first fight since his loss to Anthony Joshua in March.

He told Sky Sport UK Whyte is one of the toughest competitors in the heavyweight division.

"I want to make a statement, I want to be dominant in this fight.

"In order to be champion again I have to fight these great challenges and also to cement my place at the top. It's important to fight good, to fight smart but look great as well," Parker said.

It will be Parker's first fight since he lost his unification bout to Anthony Joshua in April.

Parker lost his WBO title in that fight but could face Joshua again in a rematch if he beats Whyte.

Whyte's only loss in his 24-fight career also came at the hands of Anthony Joshua in 2015.

Parker's manager David Higgins is hoping Parker will get to fight in Britain again.

"This is the epicentre of heavyweight boxing in the world. Obviously we came close against Anthony Joshua (but) didn't quite get the win," he said.