Garp almost killed Roger countless times and even on the final voyage Roger was still calling for him by name. He said Roger or Sengoku who were clearly the only men that could challenge him. If Garp was far behind him that would be like Luffy rolling up to the new world and asking for doflamingo by name. Fact is Roger and Garp killed WB's csptain so if anything WB had to live up to Garps name and not the other way around the same way Roger at his peak would probably wonder how he'd fair against xebeck in a one one one fight.
Switch Garp&Whitebeard at Marineford even you dont belive they are on the same lvl.
Smoker almost killed luffy multiple times so what.
Here is a small comparison between old top tier in their Prime
King & Katakuri/Roger & Whitebeard
Queen Jozu Smoothie/
/Garp Rayleigh Sengoku
also on this lvl is Shanks Kaido Big Mom
Cracker Biscuits/Shiki Armada lol
ALL Commander lvl but some are 1st 2nd or 3rd
I was right about Zoro getting ADVCOC before he got it, couple of chapters after Luffy. Mihawks & Shanks strength, now Mihawk haters are hidding I said Prime Rayleigh=Shanks=Mihawk Yonko lvl now Rayleigh doubters are hidding.
I will be proven right about Akainu v Sabo and not Luffy.
Going againts me is like Lottery 1 in 100000000 you will be right.