Do you think oda has balls to write akainu above shanks?
Yes, Akainu is probably slightly stronger.
What people do not understand is that they expect Oda making Mihawk stronger than Shanks is way more bullshit, someone not related to one piece and who is not the strongest yonko or marine being the strongest in the verse when no one gives a shit about him, not in the one piece race.
Oda has a high regard of Akainu, finish one piece in a year etc.
Being the strongest marine, he can Def making him stronger than red Hair, but of course I've seen many people who used to put big mom and Kaido above Shanks and that was complete joke and cope.
For now Garling, Akainu, Shanks and Dragon have the best portray (not counting there is Imu), and I think they are legit Pirate King level fighters, Kuzan sure comes close (never understood people putting Mihawk but never Kuzan between the tops in edits and discussions, and then crying saying Mihawk is downplayed by the community when he is very overrated, he is not Vista level and a legit top tier but for now he is probably stronger than Issho and more than likely weaker than Kuzan, who is gonna be the stepstone of coby, the future of the marines and as I say since years here the future garp, so of course above Prime Zoro).
For Kaido sorry for you buddy but as I used to say as well, he got powercliffed by Kizaru.