JOHNNY Armour is planning a quick return to the ring, following the

successful defence of his WBU bantamweight belt against Francis Ampofo. The 33-year-old Chatham boxer beat Ampofo on points during a bruising

encounter at the Goresbrook Leisure Centre in Dagenham on Saturday night.

He is keen to keep active and aims to be back in action again in the

summer. Armour could be in line for a world title unification fight against

highly-rated Danish fighter Johnny Bredhal, the new WBA champion, but it is

more likely that he will defend his WBU title again first.

"I have got to speak to my managers and we'll go from there," said Armour. "We might be looking at another defence or a shot at another world title. Maybe Johnny Bredal could be an option but, whatever it is, we are hoping

for it to be at the end of July."

Armour's victory over Ampofo surprised many in the crowd, who believed the

Bethnal Green boxer had done enough over the 12 rounds to take the title. Ampofo was on the offensive for most of the bout but two judges scored the

fight 114 to both fighters while the other judge, Karl Rogers, gave it to

Armour 116-112.

"I knew it was close," said Armour. "It was another hard fight, but I

just dug in. I was making the cleaner shots and that is what the judges scored it on and what I think won me the fight. He caught with some good shots but I have got more cuts and bumps from his head, which is what hurt me more than anything."

Armour admitted he was not at his best against the man he previously

defeated 17 months ago to win the title. You feel better in some fights than others, and I didn't feel on top form," he said. "I won the fight, which is the main thing, but didn't feel how I wanted to feel. Maybe you can't feel the best in every fight and sometimes you have an off night."

Armour paid tribute his supporters who had followed him from Medway and

dedicated his victory to the memory of Maizie Bunch, the five-month-old

daughter of his best friend Paul, who died recently of meningitis.