User blog comment:Blackendedsoul/Smoker's Bravery/@comment-4630086-20120320112641/@comment-3425840-20120320225058

Yes what you are saying is sensible, but my point is, it is still not shown anywhere clearly that Buggy is a Shichibukai. It is hinted to the point that is almost certain but still it is not confirmed, therefore it still is a speculation.

The fact that his bounty was canceled and the carrier bat all are hints and not proofs. So we can say it is official as of yet.