Worstgen
Cinera
I had previously argued that Oda would not have drawn Doffy humiliating high high tiers (e.g. Marco) like that, but Luffy vs Apoo shows me this is not the case. The similarities between the two encounters are also undeniable. While it is true that Jozu was unable to deal with Doflamingo's ability, he may have performed better had he had knowledge/wasn't caught off guard.
Cinera
That said, I wouldn't place Jozu above Doflamingo just yet:
* We have many other reasons to believe Luffy is much stronger than Apoo, but not really for Jozu vs Doflamingo.
* Doflamingo still has awakening in his favour (and his awakening is a substantial rise in his combat ability).
* Their handling of Kuzan still stands.
* We have many other reasons to believe Luffy is much stronger than Apoo, but not really for Jozu vs Doflamingo.
* Doflamingo still has awakening in his favour (and his awakening is a substantial rise in his combat ability).
* Their handling of Kuzan still stands.
Sentinel
I've saying this for several months. Doffy definitely does not stomp Jozu only because he easily restrained him with parasite. It was just an instance to hype Doflamingo's mysterious powers (don't forget, Doffy's powers were still unknown, we did not even know that Doffy had the string fruit) and Jozu was the hypetool.
Sentinel
> Their handling of Kuzan still stands.
Not really. Whilst Kuzan effectively took out Jozu with a direct touch, and that was Kuzan's intention as well, taking Jozu out of the battle, he simply gave Doflamingo a warning shot - and the latter was still panting and huffing like crazy for breaking out of the ice.
Not really. Whilst Kuzan effectively took out Jozu with a direct touch, and that was Kuzan's intention as well, taking Jozu out of the battle, he simply gave Doflamingo a warning shot - and the latter was still panting and huffing like crazy for breaking out of the ice.
If Oda is willing to depict Luffy poorly against an opponent an _entire tier_ below him, then it is no longer clear that Doflamingo humiliating Jozu was decisive portrayal in his favour.