Not to downplay Aokiji's performance though, given the fact he is a top tier logia user, him going into a brawl with Garp the fist even at old age is incredible. I'd just disagree with comparing it to prime Garp (even if we compare pure punching strength, prime Garp's Haki should be considerably above). I would also assume that prime Garp's punching strength is > Aokiji's, you just shouldn't judge it purely based on them training on Marine Battleships.
But that makes Kuzan looking very strong.
No one saying he has similar lvl of haki as Garp has, I doubt even Kaido or anyone else with a df have.
But Kuzan was said to have weak physical strength in this community for years before his match with Garp was shown.
It was always said that he would be insane with his df but that was it.
Now we can see why he match Akainu in equal ground.
Alone the fact to have such a insane physical strength with a insane df is a massive hype for him.
Im pretty sure he used CoC in that clash vs Garp(both used it which explain the insane huge shockwave), most likely adv CoC(adv CoC also can touch before someone come here and tell me something else). He has adv CoA(was shown in marineford), has a crazy df and most likely is even awakened.
So if we count all the possiblities:
- CoC(most likely adv CoC)
- Matched Prime Garp in Physical strength, same Garp who used mountains for punching bags)
- Adv CoA(at least first lvl)
- Maybe FS(was shown against Whitebeard, shape shifting like Katakuri did against Jinbe and Ichiji)
- Crazy df power and great skills(Ice glove as example is a powerful attack which could easily knock out high tiers with one hit),most likely even awakened.
There is a reason why he was in the last chapter in the final page as one of the most important characters who has such a potential in playing a role when it come to the One Piece. He is for sure a high top tier and has great potential to be even above other known high top tiers.
Akainu, Kuzan, Teach,Shanks...
These characters are equal in power, a reason why Teach didn´t want to mess up with Kuzan alone even thought he had his crew behind him, he knows that Kuzan would easily stomp is yonkou commanders, which is not far left in fact that Shiryuu his second strongest, would be knocked out by Garp if one adv CoC would hit him like it did with Kuzan..