MIDDLEWEIGHT boxer Danny Brown is relishing the chance to have a rematch against former profesional footballer Leon McKenzie.

The ex-Norwich City striker-turned-fighter secured a narrow points win over South Woodham Ferrers pugilist Brown at York Hall on Saturday.

And Brown is now hoping he can step into the ring again against undefeated McKenzie in the future.

“I spoke to him on Twitter after the fight and I said I would like to fight him again,” said Brown, who used to live in Wickford and still trains at the town’s Newlands Gym.

“I’d love to have a rematch but we’ll have to see whether he will want to fight me a second time.”

The middleweight bout at the famous Bethnal Green venue went the full six-round distance before London-born McKenzie was given the verdict by a 59-56 margin.

McKenzie called Brown a “tough kid” as he celebrated his 36th birthday by stretching his record to four wins and a draw from his five bouts.

And Brown had no complaints about the result after suffering the 14th defeat of his 20-fight professional career.

“It was a tough fight and I got dropped in the third round, so it was a fair enough result,” added the 37-year-old plasterer.

“But I did not perform to my best. I don’t want to make excuses but I did feel tired because I’m working and have a new-born baby.”

Brown had not watched video footage of McKenzie in action before the fight and admitted the former Peterborugh United, Coventry City and Charlton Athletic player was better than he expected.

The Essex fighter said McKenzie, who is the son of one-time British and European light welterweight champ Clinton McKenzie, had a “fantastic jab which he hit me with every time he threw it”.

And he admitted McKenzie's fitness also stood the Londoner in good stead.

Brown was due to fight in Bolton this weekend but his opponent could not make the weight, so he is expecting to return to the ring next month following a holiday.