The debate has raged among One Piece fans about who would win in a fight: Monkey D. Luffy or Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, better known as Akainu. The following article will look into the development of both characters in their current state, along with their abilities, to see how such a confrontation would turn out.
Luffy Power Progression
Luffy has developed well since the beginning of the series, more so after the time skip and especially with his recent awakening of Gear 5. Now, concerning the beating of Kaido, one of the strongest characters in the One Piece world, that definitely secures a huge plus on his standing in the matter of power. Some fans even say this current strength is enough to contend with someone like Old Whitebeard, which in return means he should be capable of defeating Akainu.
Akainu Power and Status
Akainu is one of the strongest characters in One Piece. He earned the position of Fleet Admiral from the Marines by defeating Aokiji, who put up a very long and fierce fight. Thus, it is indicated that Akainu was stronger and had the will to endure more. Akainu's Devil Fruit ability is Magu Magu no Mi; his body turns to magma, making him literally unstoppable in battle.
Pre-Timeskip vs. Post-Timeskip
The difference should be noted between pre-timeskip and post-skip Luffy in this regard. Pre-skip Luffy wouldn't stand a chance against Akainu. However, post-skip Luffy, with all his recent power-ups, will be a much more difficult opponent.
Fan Speculations and Theories
Opinions on who would win if Luffy ever faced Akainu are greatly divided. Some feel that current Luffy, with Gear 5 and his superior Haki, would be able to defeat Akainu in an incredibly intense battle. Others say experience, position, and raw power still place Akainu above Luffy.
Narrative Implications
The battle between Luffy and Akainu is of great significance in terms of storytelling. Akainu killed Ace, who was Luffy's brother, hence making the fight against him personal. Many fans have speculated that Luffy defeats Akainu ultimately in his quest to become the Pirate King.
Some factors which would be used to determine a winner if they fought:
Several factors could influence the outcome of a hypothetical battle between Luffy and Akainu.
The difference that would turn out to be of central importance in their fight would be the highly developed Haki abilities of both characters.
Devil Fruit Abilities: Luffy is taken to an unprecedented versatility with his Gear 5 form, while Akainu has extremely destructive powers with magma.
Experience and Strategy: The experience Akainu has gained from years as a high-ranking Marine could prove advantageous in tactics.
Willpower/Determination: The characters on both sides boast about being unyielding, something which, if really pushed to the limit, could prove decisive in a prolonged battle.
Alternative Theories
Some fans believe that Luffy will not be fighting Akainu alone. For some, Sabo, the other brother of Luffy, could be the one to fight Akainu. This would be for the sake of personal revenge, since Akainu killed Ace. Others believe that Akainu will not fight in the final battle at all, depending on what plans Oda has for the ending.
Analysis and Conclusion
Considering all the above facts and assessing Luffy's power ups recently, it does seem that at this point Luffy can actually beat Akainu. Gear 5's awakening, coupled with his victory against Kaido, boosted Luffy's fighting potential by a long shot. Akainu is a tough cookie, though, in whom the readers have not yet seen the full potential in the post-timeskip era.
Both characters will definitely push each other to their limits, so the result of their potential fight would be very close. Given Luffy is the main protagonist and has gained strength throughout the series, he can probably win against Akainu in a fight, but it would be very hard to do. That would be one conclusion that flows with the story of One Piece, where Luffy keeps beating more and more powerful enemies. Although the actual events will come to light when that confrontation happens in the manga, till then it's anybody's guess.