User blog comment:White Hunter Smoker/Enel's strength/@comment-3119203-20110729223334/@comment-4202826-20110730002817

Enel also had haki Mantra was what the people of Skypiea called Kenbunshoku Haki. Now the Admirals probably are proficient at both Kenbunshoku and Busoshoku. The latter being something Enel showed no knowledge about. Thus the admirals or really anyone with a Logia ability has an advantage over him because he wouldn't be able to harm them easily.