User blog comment:Blackendedsoul/Smoker's Bravery/@comment-4754162-20120320044718

Many points has been discussed below so I'll just cut to the chase and say my points without explaination


 * Having confidence in his own strength - I have this feeling
 * Knowing logia is a badass on its own right - common understanding
 * cats (marine) must catch mouse (pirate) - self explanatory

Hence I disagree Smoker was overconfident / cockiness back then when he was facing Ace. A possibility was Smoker having advantage in battle experience while Ace in age, and both having logia DF (and they knew it)...