Go back and re-read chapter 1035. King indirectly acknowledged Zoro could beat his flame defense. That's why he entered his faster mode and created distance between them. Since he couldn't stop Zoro attack with his defense his only opinion was to evade it. Unfortunately, Zoro's CoC attack speed was too fast from him and he was blizted by Zoro.
We don't know if the new pacifica defense is equal to King.