User blog comment:Fliu/Wano Country Arc Act 1 Thoughts/@comment-37485080-20181112060908/@comment-2600:1702:3C50:A6E0:5DC3:DD79:8E7C:2741-20181114053758

Fair enough, but I would imagine that while he might not be the final boss as far as the manga is concerned, he seems to be shaping up to be the final battle Luffy faces against his fellow pirates. It would seem that to conclude this properly, both Akainu and Blackbeard must fall. The order is not as important so long as it happens.