Former world boxing champion Johnny Armour is to stand trial after denying drugs charges today.

The 44-year-old, of Palmerston Road, Chatham, appeared in the dock at Maidstone Crown Court with Robert Cartmer, 33, and Grant Church, 30.

Armour, who won the bantamweight world title three times between 2000 and 2002, and Cartmer, of Priory Road, Gillingham, denied conspiracy to supply cannabis on September 7 last year.

Church, of Kenilworth Gardens, Hornchurch, Essex, admitted the charge on the accepted basis he was “a trusted courier”.

Armour, who having retired has now set up his own fight club - Armour Plated Boxing - at his home, also denied possessing amphetamine sulphate on the same date.

Prosecutor Walton Hornsby said the three were arrested following the seizure of large quantities of cannabis and cash.

Church will be sentenced after the trial of Armour and Cartmer, which has been set as far ahead as April 10 next year because of the backlog of cases.

They were granted bail, Armour and Cartmer’s being conditional on residence.

Judge Jeremy Carey told Church: “You have had the good sense to plead guilty.

You will sentenced after the trial some time in April next year unless you make an application you wish that it be expedited.”

As an amateur, Chatham-born Armour won the 1990 Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) flyweight title.

As a professional he lifted the European Boxing Union (EBU) bantamweight title, World Boxing Union (WBU) bantamweight title and Commonwealth bantamweight title.

He was also a challenger for the World Boxing Union (WBU) super bantamweight title against Carlos Navarro.

Armour was trained by Collin Moorcroft, and managed by Terry Toole.