Joseph Parker knows he has to up the aggression in heavyweight clash with Dillian Whyte this weekend

The New Zealand native is back on British soil for another crucial fight and insists he will not make the same mistake as before

The two men meet in the ring on Saturday night (Getty)

Joseph Parker, one of boxing's genuine good guys, has promised to 'smash Dillian Whyte's head and body' after watching the chance to unify the heavyweight division against Anthony Joshua slip through his fingers.

Parker came in for criticism after failing to turn the screw late on against Joshua, who had built up a sizeable lead on the cards after dominating the early rounds of their March clash at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.

Now, only three months on from that night, the New Zealand native is back on British soil for another crucial fight and insists he will not make the same mistake again.

“I have learned from that fight,” Parker said, reflecting on the Cardiff clash.

“I was not aggressive enough and I wasn't mongrel enough but I did not practice it.

“With practice I am punching a lot harder, I am punching with my whole body now. I said I wanted to hurt people from now on and I really mean that.

“We are in the hurt business and if I don't hurt him, he is going to hurt me.

“I want to go out and smash his body and head and exchange punches - and whoever lands the cleanest shot should get the knock-out.”

Parker, who lost his WBO title that night, is also acutely aware that victory over Whyte will put him right back in the frame for a second crack at Joshua, who defends his WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles against Alexander Povetkin at Wembley on September 22.

Should he beat the Russian, Joshua is already scheduled to box at Wembley on April 13 next year, with WBC champion Deontay Wilder the obvious target.

However, should Joshua's Matchroom promotional company fail to agree terms on that heavyweight megafight, they will need an opponent and Parker believes he now has the blueprint to beat the unified champion.

Both men want another shot at Anthony Joshua (PA)

Parker added: “I feel an impressive victory, in great fashion, could get that fight.

“We have to put on a great show and hopefully the winner will get Joshua if he doesn't get that big fight with Wilder.

“I know that I focussed too much on movement and defence in that fight and people asked me why I didn't just smash him, but people don't realise how hard it is when someone with a great skill set is keeping their distance.

“He did a lot of good things to stop me but I hopefully I could change that if we went again.”

Joseph Parker knows he has to up the aggression (Getty)

First, Parker has to take care of Whyte, whose only defeat also came at the hands of Joshua.

Since that night, in December 2015, Whyte has racked up seven victories, including a brutal stoppage of Australian Lucas Browne in March.

The Jamaica-born Londoner believes he will have another early night against Parker, who he described as a coward as a result of the visitor's performance against Joshua.

“It surprised me, I did not know how to take it,” Parker said, when asked for his reaction to being labelled a coward.

The Kiwi was too defensive last time out (PA)

“But sometimes people try to talk smack, get under your skin and try to rattle you but that can be them trying to convince themselves they are ready for the challenge.

“His plan is to stand there and fight and I will make it easy for him if that is what I stand there and do.

“I am coming to this fight with a gameplan that will have a lot of action.”

Parker is not underestimating Dillian Whyte (Getty)

On Whyte, Parker added: “I put him up there, each fight he has improved and looked better.

“He can become a world champion, he has the drive and confidence. He never had structure or a nutritionist and the drive. But with all that he will be.

“He has only been knocked out once so it will be hard, even if I knock him down I think he will get back up, that shows he has heart.”