User blog comment:StrawKid/Shanks vs Blackbeard/@comment-53539-20120128144913/@comment-53539-20120128151338

WB was labelled as the strongest man because he was "closet to One Piece" and GR's main rival. my guess is they labelled him as the strongest because he had proven his strength against the best. However, to stay strongest all he needed was to be challenged and not be surpassed. What if Shanks WAS stronger but had no interest in challenging WB? That means Shanks never earns the title of Worlds strongest.

Also, while BB was damaged in the fight, he had no problems with challenging the entire Marine force, WB and his men and pretty much used all his power freely without care. Even with Haki alone, Shjanks manages to be on par with WB who had one of the most feared DFs.

While this is all built on "what if..." We just don't know what Shanks is 100% capable of. YBare this in mind also, because Shanks seems to know BB is a bigger threat then everyone thought he was, yet even though BB said he wasn't ready for Shanks, walked causally away, not running scared.

This whole issue with BB and Shanks fight seems to be built on a lot of uncertainity. Half the problem is, yes BB beat WB, but he didn't beat him in his prime, he beat him in one of his weakest moments.