User blog comment:12th Supernova/750 chapters is a LOT/@comment-24850639-20140619221559

I look at it this way: We can say quite comfortably that a yonko can take an admiral. Akainu may have got the drop on Whitebeard a bit, but Whitebeard was already injured to a degree and still managed to give him an ass whooping. As for their second in command/first mates, its a little more ambiguous. Benn Beckman definitely intimidated Kizaru (albeit sarcastically), and Marco held his own against Kizaru and Aokiji. While we cant say comfortably that a yonko's first mate can beat an admiral, they can definitely give them a run for their money. I don't look at the Revolutionaries any differently. They have relatively the same size and scope of influence as the Marines and Pirates, maybe even more. So in my mind, it makes no sense to assume that Dragon COULDN'T take an admiral, even though we havent seen him fight. Therefore the revolutionaries 2nd in command by the same logic should be able to at least give an admiral quite a good fight.

I won't deny that there's more to consider here, like Ace being stronger than Sabo when they were little, the fact that is more than JUST an admiral, and that he's completely by himself, but c'mon. Sabo taking a major loss after he's just been reintroduced like that would just be bad taste. I also wouldn't put it past Sabo to have studied the Marines top brass and their abilities quite well. I mean your organization's MISSION is to oppose the World Government, and he's 2nd in command. Didn't mean to rant this much, just didn't expect one page to stir up so much Sabo conversation.