So Oda introduced this ugly motherfucker, barely showed him at all, and then abolished the Shichibukai system entirely. And while it's very easy to speculate about the role some of the former Shichibukai will play in the story (Boa, Mihawk, Buggy, etc.), it certainly feels like nobody ever talks about this guy. Is there even hype surrounding him? Does anyone think he's going to be a threat for any of the important characters?
I'm just struggling to see what his purpose will be. What do you think Oda has planned for this guy? Why does he exist?