BOXING legend Joe Frazier - former Heavyweight Champion of the World - visited a Wirral pub last weekend to share stories from his glory days.

The heavyweight hero held a special Q&A session at The Claughton pub in Upton Road on Saturday.

Frazier, known around the world as "Smokin’ Joe", dropped into the pub as part of a two-week trip to England and attracted hundreds of fans to the event.

Organiser Tony Gallagher of Blue and Red Promotions said: “It was fantastic to have such a legend here in Wirral.

"Joe answered questions on his amazing career and everybody was in awe of him.

"Although he’s in his late-60s now, he looked good for it and he was the envy of many boxers who came along on the day.”

Frazier, whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, is best remembered for his trilogy of battles against The Greatest, Muhammad Ali.

With the victory count standing at one apiece, the third time the bitter rivals met was on October 1, 1975, at the Coliseum in the Philippines - "The Thrilla in Manila".

Arguably the most famous world heavyweight title bout of all time, the fighters slugged it out for 14 bone-crunching rounds.

Joe Frazier’s trainer then made what is considered to be one of the most humane boxing decisions ever, by not allowing Joe to come out for the 15th.

Fearing a fatality, he put one hand on Frazier’s shoulder and told him "it’s all over."

Ali stood up to celebrate but collapsed with exhaustion.

Following the fight he commented that this was the closest thing to death he had experienced.

In a post-fight interview with one of the commentators, Ali announced: "He is the greatest fighter of all times. Next to me."

Joe now regularly trains young fighters near his home in Philadelphia.