It is much easier to hunt a rabbit with a cannon in an open field with short grass than it is to hunt a rabbit with a slingshot in an open field with tall grass.
If Mihawk's strength is irrelevant why happened we seen another top tier fight a YC without focusing them and still not take a single hit?
Keep telling yourself that a boxing professional can face the champion, not touch hit the champion once during their fight while the champions is focusing on something else, and believe he is near or close to the champions level.