Great matchup! I would favor Ohba. Yuri was the bigger puncher, and had a better chin, but I think Ohba's superb jab, and high activity level would be too much for Yuri, who was a bit TOOO methodical. It's so eerie that Ohba was cut down at 23 just like Sal Sanchez. And just like Sanchez, Ohba seemed to have endless stamina.
Arbachakov had better overall technique, punch selection and balance, though Ohba was not far off. I think the most telling disparity between them is in size and strength, which goes to Ohba, such that it doesn't even appear as though they belong in the same division. In what would otherwise be close match, I see Masao pulling ahead with bursts of combination punching while Arbachakov is against the ropes.
Bump. Would have been a thrilling Flyweight match up. Arbachakov has the power to put Ohba down and perhaps rock him but down the stretch I think Ohba recovers, uses his jab and workrate to scrape out a narrow decision win. Ohba always seems to do great when fighting with urgency which will do well for him against a fighter like Arbachakov.
Man, great fight. A prime Arbachakov was a very dangerous man. I personally don't think he was in his prime for the majority of his title run, he always seemed to have nagging issues and pains which prevented him from fully putting everything together at the same time like he did earlier in his career imo. Just to go against the pack, I'll pick Yuri to counter and outpoint a courageous, dogged, but ultimately outslicked Oba. Very good 50/50 fight though.
It's been years. Before I may have picked Yuri, but I have to favour Ohba here now. There is a big difference in class between who Ohba beat and who Arbachakov beat. I love watching Yuri though. Him and Nazarov were absolute beasts.
