User blog comment:Ghmorello/Chapter 895: No Step On Snakeman!/@comment-24850639-20180216153026/@comment-24850639-20180219152146

Knocked about? Luffy landed some blows that knocked Katakuri back or made him stagger a little, but the only thing he landed that made him actually go flying was Jet Culverin, which Katakuri still blocked at the last second. Luffy hasn't put Katakuri on his back in this new form, which speaks volumes of Katakuri's ability. He probably will with King Cobra, but it is irrefutable that until this point while Luffy has been in Snakeman, Katakuri has landed the only attack of major damage, which means he still holds the upper hand currently.

I see why people are asserting that this is the best fight of the series. Up until now, Gears 2-4 have immediately turned the tide of battle in Luffy's favor when he activated them. Sure, Cracker held his own against Boundman pretty well by using his DF ability to fatigue Luffy, but the instant he tried one attack himself against Tankman, Luffy put that ass down hard. Katakuri immediately began to son Luffy in Boundman once he got his Observation Haki working again, and he's almost effortlessly countering attacks against Snakeman and smacking Luffy something vicious. Lucci couldn't hang with the enhanced speed and power of Gear 2nd, and definitely coudldn't handle the raw power of Gear 3rd. This fight isn't following the "typical" course that a fight goes through after a protagonist reveals a new transformation/ability, so it's only gotten more compelling with each chapter.