David Haye hints at imminent heavyweight showdown with Anthony Joshua

Haye, the former WBA champion, is making his return to the ring after a near four-year absence on January 16 - facing Australian Mark di Mori as he plots his return to the top of the division.

Joshua, by comparison just starting out in his career, is next in action on Saturday - as he faces another unbeaten fighter, Dillian White, in the headline fight at the O2 Arena.

With Tyson Fury last month taking Wladimir Klitschko's heavyweight titles in impressive fashion, excitement has been growing about the possibility for a number of high-profile all-British bouts over the next few years. And at the weigh-in for Joshua's meeting with Whyte - the former Olympic champion weighed in at 17st 5lbs, two poinds lighter than his opponent - Haye seemed to suggest that a meeting with Joshua had already been pencilled in for the near future.

“Hopefully I get through my fight and he gets through his fights, then without a doubt our paths are going to pass very shortly – a world title, eliminator for a world title,” Haye said.

“If he keeps doing what he’s doing, there’s no doubt we’ll fight at some stage.”

Joshua agreed, adding: "You heard it here first.

"That’s what it’s about. As with a fighter’s mentality, you’ve both got work to do beforehand. But some time, down the line, our paths will cross – whatever it’s for. You’ve got two great athletes. This is where you heard it first.”

Haye, whose two career defeats have come against Carl Thompson (in 2004) and Wladimir Klitschko (in 2011), believes the undefeated Joshua's fight with Whyte will be a yardstick of his true capabilities.

"He’s done everything he needs to do to get the victories,” Haye said of Joshua. “He’s in fantastic condition, a former Olympic champion and he’s fighting undefeated fighters. The last one he fought [unbeaten Scot Gary Cornish in a minute and 37 seconds], he knocked him out pretty cleanly.

“This for me is going to show exactly where he is. If he can do the same type of performance as he’s done in, say, his last fight, that then says, OK, he’s one of the best heavyweights on the planet.”

There was little excitement at Friday's weigh-in, as Whyte turned his back on Joshua during the traditional pre-fight stare-down. More action came from the undercard, with Chris Eubank Jr. and Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan dragged apart after the latter man planted a kiss on his opponent.

Eubank Jr. initially failed to make weight for the middleweight fight after deciding to wear gloves on the scales - but returned later (without said gloves) having shed the few required pounds.