Apoo has a devil fruit that he couldn't use because it was a 2v1 and they were on him before he even knew what was happening. A 1 on 1 where you're ready to fight your opponent is totally different from being thrusted into a situation where literally everyone wants to clap you because you have an antidote you can't get rid of. Apoo with his fruit knocked Luffy out (for like a second), cut Zoro, and had Kid reeling temporarily. This makes it really hard to scale anyone using this fight. Apoo can block Hybrid Drake but can he do enough damage to put him down? Can he do enough damage to put Zoro down? Would Zoro be able to blitz an Apoo that's constantly blowing him up and cutting him? Nobody knows and you sure as hell can't use this fight to find out.
against drake why he couldn't do it ?
when he forced to CqC didn't Apoo showed a better CqC the last chapter his DF what would do to Zoro after closing his ears he could unleash tatsumaki version in Nitoryu ( tornado ) and disturb him and then he speedblitzes him and finishes him off
Apoo could handle Zoro and Apoo just fine last chapter and here it's drake who is struggling and he showed his face after Zoro finished apoo like he is shocked
Apoo's guard is on not off against anyone that's just ur headcanon Zoro stopped killer's attack to hyori and stopped gyuki attack from behind that's the whole thing about CoO Zoro blitzed Apoo and drake both of them and couldn't sense anything with a no named attack used against Hody
do the math and u will know better