BOXING fans were treated on Saturday when former Irish heavyweight boxing champion ‘Big’ Joe Egan dropped in to Waterstone’s in Southend.

Mr Egan signed copies of his book, Big Joe Egan: The Toughest White Man on the Planet. The signing was organised alongside Mr Egan’s appearance at the Locker Room gym, at Southend Central station, where he gave a boxing workshop to gym members and local boxers.

The Locker Room’s co-owner James Chisholm said: “Joe is one of those guys who you speak to for five minutes and then feel as if you have known him all your life.

“People also had the chance to ask Joe questions. This proved really popular, especially because of his friendship with Mike Tyson.”