The undercard was perhaps not as strong as it looked on paper with the likes of Joe Joyce and John Ryder scoring very early stoppages, but getting a chance to see Emmanuel Rodriguez was interesting before he heads into the next World Boxing Super Series.
The main event was also a fun fight and all credit has to be given to Bellew for getting the win in more dominant style than when he beat Haye fourteen months ago.
Bellew has options now and I am not sure he will retire even if he has hinted that way- if Adonis Stevenson is able to win next weekend I can see that potentially being a rematch Bellew looks for at a higher weight, while the likes of Andre Ward and Tyson Fury were called out by the Liverpudlian.
He could decide he has had enough now too but I think there is some big money that will be put on the table for Bellew who might be the most attractive name at Cruiserweight or Heavyweight outside of the Champions. I can see the winner of the World Boxing Super Series Cruiserweight tournament looking to move up and it makes a lot of sense for whoever that is to target Bellew, although I am not sure it will light the fire in the British fighter in terms of a 'mega fight' even if the true Boxing fans would know exactly who Oleksandr Usyk/Maret Gassiev are.
While Bellew has options, Haye has to be thinking long and hard about calling it a day- he still has some power, which is always the last thing to go, but I think Haye's body just can't do what he wants it to do.
Haye has his faculties intact, has a promotional team picking up the likes of Joe Joyce and will also have a productive career in the media working for Sky/Box Nation.
Take nothing away from his achievements as Haye was one of the best this country has produced, but he can't allow his legacy to be tarnished any more and it's time to hang up the gloves as far as I am concerned.
Last weekend was a tough one for the Boxing Picks with nothing really going the way I anticipated. Joe Joyce and Gennady Golovkin could the stoppage I picked, but it came a couple of Rounds too early each time while I underestimated Bellew for a second time.
This week we have a potential 'Fight of the Year' when Jorge Linares takes on Vasyl Lomachenko and I can't wait to see this one. We also have Hughie Fury and Sadam Ali both back in action too and my thoughts on all three fights are below.
Sam Sexton vs Hughie Fury
The one Fury that most people are looking forward to returning to the ring is Tyson Fury, but his cousin Hughie Fury is back on Saturday after last being seen out-pointed by Joseph Parker in what was a pretty bad fight.
Hughie Fury is a young fighter who is still approaching his peak and Peter Fury made it clear that his son had not performed as he should have in the World Title bout with Parker last year.
Now he comes back to domestic level as he looks to pick up the British Title by ripping it away from Sam Sexton who has previously been beaten by Dereck Chisora (twice) and David Price.
Sexton is speaking the right way with talk about a win pushing him towards a World Title shot, but I do think he has reached his level and winning the British Title is a big achievement for him. He is going to have trouble in this fight against an awkward customer like Fury and Sexton doesn't have the big punch to get himself out of tough situations and at least worry his opponent.
Of course every Heavyweight can punch hard, but Sexton has only nine stoppages in twenty-four wins and the majority of those fights would have come against fighters lesser than Hughie Fury.
I am not completely convinced about Hughie being able to match cousin Tyson because I do think he is not able to throw his punches as he would like. I don't know whether there is an issue with him being able to let go in the ring, but Hughie Fury has only stopped half of the opponents he has beaten and these fights on his resume have not really been against top competition outside of Joseph Parker.
The layers are expecting a more aggressive Hughie Fury on Saturday with that being the main reason his team feel he lost to Joseph Parker last year. That may happen, but I think Fury may go back to type and end up coasting to a wide points decision instead as he refuses to take the risks to really put Sexton away.
All three Sexton losses have come by stoppages, but I'll have a small interest in Fury pulling away for a comfortable points win in what may not be the most exciting fight.
Sadam Ali vs Jaime Munguia
There is no doubt that Sadam Ali has not really been given the credit for his huge upset of Miguel Cotto and that should be keeping the fire burning within the American as he makes his first defence of the WBO Super-Welterweight Title he won that night.
This should have been a chance for Liam Smith to reclaim a World Title having lost this same belt to Canelo Alvarez, but an illness meant he had to postpone his shot until later in 2018.
Step in Jaime Munguia.
Things may have been different for the young Mexican who was the first choice to replace Canelo in the Middleweight World Title fight with Gennady Golovkin, but the boards refused to sanction that bout. Ultimately another opportunity has arrived in his own Division and now Munguia has a chance to show what he is all about.
He is a hard fighter to peg with a strong record but with all but one of his twenty-eight fights taking place in Mexico and against questionable competition. This is no doubt a step up for Munguia but his team are confident he could be the next superstar to come out of Mexico and you can't discount the punching power he possesses.
Ali's stoppage at the hands of Jesse Vargas has been the rod to beat him down for a while now, but I do think the Olympian is going to show his boxing skills and be able to keep his young opponent from truly unloading.
I think Ali may get hurt in the fight if the Munguia power is at the level that some are suggesting, but I expect Ali to show off his experience of being involved in bouts with some decent fighters. That should mean he can come through some of the more difficult moments and I think he is able to make the first defence of his World Title.
Backing Ali to win any way looks the way to go although Munguia is someone who could surprise with the opportunity presented to him.
Jorge Linares vs Vasyl Lomachenko
There is every chance for this to be the 'Fight of the Year' as pound for pound king Vasyl Lomachenko moving up to Lightweight to take on arguably the top fighter in the Division in Jorge Linares.
Vasyl Lomachenko has moved up to try and become a three weight World Champion and there is no doubting the quality of the boxing brain. He is quick, has good feet and show his accumulation of punches can be too much for opponents with a remarkable four straight opponents deciding to quit on their stool.
And it is not as though Lomachenko has handpicked his way through the weights, but instead he is taking on every challenge put in front of him as he looks to cement his legacy.
To take on a bigger man with the quality of Jorge Linares in just his twelfth professional fight is a testament to the kind of man Lomachenko is.
Linares knows all about the pressure of being considered a pound for pound king and admitted he struggled with it. However he has won thirteen straight fights since his last loss but this is a step up terms of class for him and Linares recognises it is an opportunity to cement his own legacy.
I have no doubt that Linares is a top fighter, but I also think Lomachenko is a step up from that level and is a 'once in a lifetime' talent. He is clearly hitting hard enough to break down opponents and that is shown up in the fact that so many opponents have been forced into 'quitting' against him.
I don't think Linares has quit in him, but I do think he cuts up and Lomachenko may begin beating him down in the second half of the fight. I do think Linares has the toughness to go the full 12 Rounds with Lomachenko, but I think the latter is going to putting the accumulation of punches on him which is going to force the late stoppage.
Backing Linares' heart means I think the fight reaches the Championship Rounds but having a small interest in Lomachenko finishing this between Round 9 and Round 12 looks a big price.
MY PICKS: Hughie Fury by Decision/Technical Decision @ 3.00 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Sadam Ali @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Vasyl Lomachenko Win Between 9-12 @ 4.50 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
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