User blog comment:Neowitch/681 - Chicken Science/@comment-4754162-20120913020923/@comment-4493594-20120914090402

Nah, it makes sense in a way. He learned new techniques but he's still an "average" human. Now if his Haki was Busoshoku instead of Kenbunshoku, that would be a different story.

But my guess is that Oda needed an excuse to let Smoker take over the fight.