Irish-Canadian boxer and multi-platinum artist Marc Mysterio is set to make his long-awaited return to the ring this October after a 15-year hiatus. The “Irish Pride” will face Ukraine’s Serhiy Radchenko in a 10-round Bridgerweight bout.

While Mysterio confirmed that both camps are in the final stages of agreement, the WBC sanctioning is still pending a June 18 meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Radchenko’s manager Tarik Saadi, WBC Ukraine President Mykola Kovalchuk, and WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán are scheduled to finalize discussions by that date.

This development follows an audio message sent to Mysterio by Saadi on Friday, June 13, confirming Radchenko’s acceptance.

Listen to the confirmation on Spotify.

In that recording, Saadi references “Mykola”—identified as Mykola Kovalchuk, WBC Ukraine President and personal attorney to unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk—highlighting the political and organizational weight behind the Ukrainian camp.

Mysterio questions Radchenko’s grit, blasts Usyk’s image

With the fight nearly official, Mysterio wasted no time setting the tone. In an exclusive interview with Sports Bytes, he launched into a scathing critique of Radchenko and Usyk, accusing both of avoiding front-line duty in Ukraine while capitalizing on national sentiment to boost their boxing careers.

“Usyk, whose Russian tongue echoes in his corner, trashes America’s $300,000,000,000 in military aid and President Trump last week while training in luxury in Spain and earning Saudi paychecks with an exception from Military service,” Mysterio said.

“Meanwhile, taxes generated from Amazon Music US-based fans’ subscription fees —like millions of others—help fund U.S. aid to Ukraine. That gives me every right to call them out. Muhammad Ali and Ted Williams didn’t get an exemption, did they?”

He pointed to reports that Usyk obtained a wartime exemption via Klitschko influence and claimed Usyk should have “fought Russia, not Joshua or Fury.”

Mysterio also doubled down on Radchenko’s military avoidance, questioning whether the 37-year-old even holds an exemption. “With that record, why would he?” Mysterio said. “Only cowards hide behind political pals, whilst Irish citizens are volunteering in his foreign legion to protect and die for his country.”

He added, “Radchenko’s too spineless to speak up. His team threw in the towel early in a world title fight against Kevin Lerena on May 1 at a luxury resort in South Africa. He crumbled. If he were president, Ukraine would’ve surrendered.”

Mysterio’s Challenge: Show True Valor

While Team Radchenko has yet to respond, Mysterio insists this isn’t mere trash talk—it’s a public challenge.

“I want a real Ukrainian warrior, not a journeyman,” Mysterio said. “Man up, Serhiy. Grab a rifle, skip this fight, and go to the front lines to honor your country—as I would for Ireland, voluntarily, exemptions be damned.”

Though the comments may not affect the bout’s timeline, they mark Mysterio’s re-entry into boxing with a sharp edge and serious intent. As the June 18 WBC meeting approaches and October 12 looms, the pressure is building—both inside and outside the ring.

Mysterio enters the bout with a 3-0 record (2 KOs) and a reputation that extends far beyond boxing. A multi-platinum musician, he earned 81 million Amazon Music streams in 2024 and charted with Billboard’s “The Dancefloor” (No. 41, Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, 2022). His music résumé includes collaborations with Flo Rida, David Guetta, Avicii, and Netflix’s Trailer Park Boys.

His pre-fight tirade—sharp, public, and personal—has drawn global media attention, with coverage from outlets including TMZ, Billboard, ESPN, Irish Star, Breitbart, Radar Online, and Daily Mail.

It’s worth noting that Radchenko is a former WBC Bridgerweight Silver Champion and is currently ranked #17 in the world in the latest WBC Bridgerweight rankings—credentials that make Mysterio’s challenge even more compelling.