Martin Scorsese to direct Jamie Foxx in Mike Tyson biopic

NEW YORK, March 16 (UPI) -- Martin Scorsese will direct Jamie Foxx in a Mike Tyson biopic.

Foxx announced the news in an interview with The Breakfast Club on Power 105.1 last week.

"I just went in with Paramount [Pictures] with Mike Tyson," the 47-year-old actor revealed. "So I'm going to do the Mike Tyson story ... And Martin Scorsese at the helm. This will be the first boxing movie that Martin Scorsese has done since Raging Bull."

Tyson seemed to confirm the news Sunday by posting a video of his 44 career knockouts on YouTube. The 48-year-old retired boxer wrote, "Help me pick my 10 best knockouts to feature in the Mike Tyson story starring Jamie Foxx and directed by Martin Scorsese."

Scorsese directed Robert DeNiro as real-life boxer Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull (1980). The film debuted to mixed reviews, but was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and many consider the movie one of Scorsese's best works.

Foxx last appeared in a Will Gluck remake of Annie, and is also scheduled for The Trap with Benicio Del Toro. Tyson led a storied professional boxing career before retiring in 2006, and was well-known for his controversial behavior inside and outside the ring, much like LaMotta.