Heaveyweight champion Anthony Joshua proved to be a knockout with fans when he visited Whitehaven.

Ring king Joshua met fans and shared tales of his quick rise to the top of the world rankings at the town's civic hall.

Admirers queued to get their chance to pose for a photo with the boxing superstar.

And Joshua, who announced he will defend his title for the first time on June 25 at London's O2, was delighted to meet his fans.

He said: "There's two sides, we booked this before my fight and that means I have to win but it's good to see your fans and you get to interact with them. 

"I do other stuff but it's just another way of interacting with them, which is important. This is the real deal, you can say what you want. There's no media, it's one-to-one with the fans."

Shaun Morton and his girlfriend Yasmin Tyson travelled from Newcastle to meet the newest heavyweight champion.

Shaun said: "My girlfriend's parents live locally and last time we were here we saw the event in the Whitehaven News so we got tickets. I'm a massive fan, he's an inspiration to me and one of the reasons why I box. I've been looking forward to it."

Martyn Fisher brought his son Matty along to see one of Britain's brightest sporting stars.

He said: "We watch all his fights and my mate had a table. It's just great isn't it, we can't wait for him."

And the heavyweight was just as pleased to see so many kids in attendance - and getting involved in his sport.

He said: "When I look I see that there is a lot of youngsters coming through and as long as the kids are coming through then I'm happy because they're the next generation."

Joshua was at his destructive best when he knocked Charles Martin out in round two to win the IBF belt earlier this month.

The 2012 Olympic gold medalist won his maiden world belt in just his 16th professional bout - quicker than greats like Mohammad Ali, Mike Tyson or Joe Frazier managed. 

His Whitehaven show was a major coup for event organiser Peter Boyle, who is responsible for bringing fellow ring superstars Evander Holyfield, Ricky Hatton and Nigel Benn to Whitehaven in recent years.

The boxer is now on a collision course with the heavyweight division's best, with fellow Brits David Haye and WBO and IBO champ Tyson Fury already calling him out. His opponent for his June fight has yet to be revealed.