I think being a former CD is what made him strong and released his madness.
I think his best route is the current one, but right now he needs to go and seek more power if he wants to release his full potential.
As a CD he will just use slaves like Charls and ve weaker.
As he is right now, I have no doubts he could a Holy Knight.
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Doffy and Kuma were portrayed together as Warlords, meanwhile the Holy Knights were so scared shitless of half-dead Kuma that Papa Saka actually had to take a break from his paperwork to save the Holy Civilian Hunters from complete annihilation
I dont thinknit was because they were scared, they seem to he like the last layer in their defense. Admirals are still CD dogs, reason Akainu went, not a matter of power.