Luffy vs Zoro may be the One Piece fight Oda promised

Modified Nov 28, 2024 03:02 GMT

Luffy vs Zoro may be the One Piece fight Oda promised (Image via Toei Animation)

With the Elbaph Arc now officially underway, many One Piece fans are looking ahead to the future, curious to see what the series has in store. However, some are taking the opportunity to reflect on the year as a whole for the series, leading them to Oda’s message from the Jump Festa 2024 event in December 2023.

Although the island Oda referenced in his message is clearly Elbaph in hindsight, there is a “battle between that character and that character” which fans don’t think has happened. However, the latest One Piece spoilers may have set that fight up just in time to make good on Oda’s promise from the start of the series’ publication year.

Oda’s promised fight in One Piece may be between Luffy and Zoro over the former’s promise with Loki

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In the latest One Piece spoilers for chapter 1132, it is all but confirmed that Luffy did make some sort of deal with Loki. While trying to lie about what he was doing in the Underworld to Gerd and Goldberg, dialogue from Loki plays out, which tells Luffy not to tell anyone about their promise.

With this in mind, it seems likely that Luffy has promised to free Loki by getting the key to his handcuffs from the village above.

Coincidentally, Luffy reunites with his full Straw Hat crew and various Giants in Dorry and Brogy’s village, per the chapter 1132 spoilers. It’s also worth mentioning that, to get to this village, Luffy returned to the same rope bridge where he separated from Zoro and the others.

All things considered, it seems likely that the key Luffy presumably needs to free Loki from his restraints is somewhere in Dorry and Brogy’s village.

However, it’s unlikely that Luffy frees and fights Loki in a quick enough time frame to be the fight Oda referenced in his aforementioned message. With this in mind, the promised fight is likely meant to be Luffy vs Zoro, with the latter fighting the former after he refuses to budge on his promise with Loki.

This would fit with Zoro’s previous characterization, which has seen him step in to correct or guide Luffy on how to be a true captain and leader when he needs it.

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More likely than not, such a situation would merit Zoro’s intervention following Luffy’s refusal to budge, especially considering the alleged threat Loki poses.

Luffy vs Zoro would also fit for two other major reasons, the first being that their hypothetical matchup is one the larger One Piece fandom is always at odds over. Oda is likely aware of this, and may have chosen to tease the fight he did knowing how exciting it would be for fans to see unfold.

The second major reason why this would make sense is that it would serve as yet another inversion to pre-time-skip events, of which there have been plenty in recent arcs. The moment would specifically reference Zoro and Luffy’s fight in Whiskey Peak, which saw Luffy mistake Zoro as the one at fault.

Yet in Elbaph, Zoro will rightfully view Luffy as the one at fault for wanting to free Loki just to get information on Shanks.

Final thoughts

The iconic duo may trade blows in upcoming issues (Image via Toei Animation)

While speculative, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that Luffy vs Zoro will come to pass due to the former’s promise with Loki and presumed refusal to budge. Such a development would fit with both of their characters, as well as give fans a highly desired dream matchup and serve as yet another pre/post-time-skip inversion.