Akainu might be the most deserving of an embarrassingly easy defeat and Luffy might not be the one delivering it but these 3 characters definitely could.

SUMMARY

Akainu is due for a humiliating defeat but Luffy might not be the one delivering it to him since he’s still not more powerful than the Fleet Admiral.
There are at least 3 characters who might be able to defeat Akainu without any struggle in One Piece, one of them being Imu for obvious reasons.
The list is subject to change and can be debated, considering how powerful Akainu is. Luffy’s powers might even get stronger soon.

Out of all the antagonists of One Piece that deserve a second round, the highest candidates are certainly Blackbeard and Akainu. A fight against either of them is inevitable, considering their actions and how much disdain Luffy holds for them. Akainu, especially, deserves justice to be brought to him.

The question remains, however, if the young pirate is strong enough to beat the Fleet Admiral, even with his awakened Devil Fruit. Luffy’s combat creativity might give him an edge but Akainu’s raw lava powers are not to be messed with.

Akainu kills Ace in front of Luffy in One Piece. [Credit: Toei Animation]

While the Straw Hat captain does have every reason to be the one who defeats Akainu, there might not be much of one if he isn’t strong enough to face him again. After all, the Fleet Admiral is not known for having mercy.

In the One Piece universe, several characters are arguably stronger than Luffy but only a few can easily wipe the floor with Akainu without breaking a sweat. Here are the top 3 candidates who can defeat the Fleet Admiral.

Shanks has superior Conqueror’s Haki

There’s no confirmation if Akainu has Conqueror’s Haki. Considering he’s the Fleet Admiral, it’s more than likely he does. Only a select few people in One Piece have this rare Haki but Red-Haired Shanks easily has the strongest in the series.

Shanks in One Piece Film: Red. [Credit: Toei Animation]

Combined with his excellent swordsmanship, the Emperor has a high chance of defeating Akainu. The Fleet Admiral struggled against Whitebeard who was well past his prime, terminally ill, and already heavily injured.

So, there’s no way Shanks couldn’t just blink and defeat Akainu. Now that there’s semi-confirmation that the Emperor isn’t a traitor or working for the World Government, it’s possible he would even try to fight the head of Marines.

Monkey D. Dragon is the World’s Worst Criminal for a reason

The current supreme commander of the Revolutionary Army has hidden powers that we don’t know about. Eiichiro Oda has hinted at them all the way back in Loguetown Arc when he saved Luffy from Smoker. After all, in a world like One Piece, you can’t shake the world without giving them something to fear.

Monkey D. Dragon from One Piece. [Credit: Toei Animation]

While it’s debatable if he has a Mythical Zoan Fruit or the power to manipulate wind and weather, Dragon is a significant threat to the Marines either way. He is labeled the World’s Worst Criminal, and rumored to have the highest bounty. Considering Garp and Luffy both have Conqueror’s Haki, Dragon could have it too.

What’s more interesting about him, though, is that he used to be a Marine. His age also suggests he could’ve met Akainu in his time there which has fueled several theories about a potentially ruined friendship between the two. Will he face his old friend-turned-enemy once again?

Imu holds the most power in One Piece

One of the biggest mysteries of One Piece is the identity and abilities of Imu, the supreme ruler of the World Government. They are one of the most merciless figures in the series, having gleefully burned down islands and ordered several executions.

Imu from One Piece. [Credit: Toei Animation]

Their identity is kept a secret to keep people under the delusion the World Government works for their benefit. However, Imu has little regard for human life. They control the Mother Flame and Uranus, an Ancient Weapon.

With their existence under tight wraps, they kill anybody who gazes upon them, even those they purposefully invite. They would not hesitate if Akainu knew they existed or stepped out of line as the Fleet Admiral.

The list of characters who could defeat Akainu is debatable, other than perhaps Imu. One Piece has no end to powerful characters and it’s even subject to change.

Maybe Luffy will rise to the occasion and be stronger than Akainu. However, these three have the best bet against the Fleet Admiral’s ruthless attitude.

One Piece is available on Crunchyroll