Tyson gives Foxx the thumps-up to portray him

Retired boxer Mike Tyson has given Oscar winner Jamie Foxx the okay to play him in a planned biopic after warming to the actor/comedian's famous impersonation.

Tyson admits he was very angry with Foxx the first time he saw the 'Ray' star poking fun at him on US TV show 'In Living Color' - but the two men have recently met and now the sports star feels the actor is the best man to portray him in a film.

And Tyson insists he's grown up a lot since the days he went hunting for Foxx to let him know exactly what he thought of the funnyman's impression.

He says: "I was trying to catch him to let him know what I felt about it... It was just a form of flattery and I was just young back then and I had a little self-esteem (issue) and insecurity."