Joseph Parker will rue leaving it so late to attack after losing to Dillian Whyte on points at the O2 Arena.Whyte has now won eight fights in a row, but he had to survive a late onslaught to prevail against the New Zealander.The judges scored the bout 113-112, 115-110 and 114-111 in Whyte’s favour.The Brixton fighter knocked Parker down in the ninth round and was certainly the better fighter.Parker, who lost to Anthony Joshua in March, looked bereft of any energy.It was only in the final two rounds that he threatened Whyte, who was clearly tiring, but it was too late by then.Dereck Chisora, Whyte’s rival, was in attendance after appearing on the undercard.

Chisora's actions at the end

Chisora produced a mightily impressive showing to knock Carlos Takam out.

And he attempted to renew his rivalry with Whyte by entering the ring after the Parker contest.

Security held Chisora back as he tried to confront the ‘Body Snatcher’.

Whyte’s latest victory puts him in a better position for a world title fight but a rematch against Chisora would probably go down well with boxing fans too.

Particularly after their first meeting in 2016, which was a thriller.

Whyte admitted that he wants to fight Joshua, the WBA, IBF and WBO champion, next.

"I would like to fight Joshua again," he said. "There are still a lot of things to work on, but if he wants it he can have it.

"I might go out again in October or December. We'll see. I'm still inexperienced and making mistakes.

"But I think there's still another 40% left in me to come in."

The manner in which Whyte tired late on will be a concern.

But he will take plenty of confidence from his latest victory.

It was a brilliant evening of boxing, and Whyte and Chisora both deserve praise for their respective performances.