Former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker is still heading in the direction of a rematch with division veteran Derek Chisora.

Parker was forced to return to New Zealand earlier this month, when members of his training camp tested positive for COVID-19 in the middle of their preparations in Las Vegas.

Parker was part of the training camp that involved WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, who was preparing for his trilogy with Deontay Wilder. Their July trilogy date was pushed back to October 9th - after Fury tested positive for COVID-19.

Luckily, Parker was not one of the camp members to test positive for the virus.

Parker fought back in May, when he was forced to get off the floor in the first round and fight his way to a very close twelve round split decision win over Chisora. Many observers felt the contest could have gone either way.

"I was in training camp with Tyson Fury," Parker tells Newshub. "The camp was going well - then COVID hit. It's frustrating, because I did have plans of keeping busy."

Parker is expected to receive a fight offer in the coming weeks from promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom.

According to Parker's manager, David Higgins, the offer will be for a rematch with Chisora.

"My understanding is that it's to have a rematch with Dereck Chisora in the United Kingdom, probably at the end of the year," says Higgins to Newshub.

"If he beats Chisora, and then maybe one or two wins, then 100 percent, there's another title shot. If it is acceptable terms, then Joseph would potentially go to the UK and take the fight. There was a sense that it was a good, close fight, probably worthy of a rematch. Whether it happens or not is down to what the terms are."