@King:
I doubt Brook will fight Lafitte. Oda has never made characters who share many similarities with each other fight and he seems to like it this way.
Don't see how you can really say this, as this really only seems to apply sometimes.
It might be more accurate to say: 'Oda has never made characters who share many similarities with each other fight…
in an easy predictable manner.
It makes for more interesting fights if both fighters are distinct from each other.
Monet was essentially Robin with wings. She fought Zoro.
Fought Zoro after 1st easily 'incapacitating' Robin.
Daruma was small and talented at digging like Chopper. Fought Usopp.
After + or while being in a cooperative fight between Usopp + Chopper.
Kaku had a long nose like Usopp. Fought Zoro.
Those were all popular predictions that ended up false.
Zoro tends to face either sword users or enemies capable of equaling or technically being superior to swordsman ship.
^^^Kaku being a good example of this.
Sanji fought Mr. 2 who mostly also seemed to center around leg strength and kicks, (+ that might be just another humorous/ serious parallel as to why or who Sanji got for a 'trainers' in 2yr Ts).
And Zeo(?) + Brooke seemed to have similar 'unique senses of humor and pride'.
Even the 2 Zoro and Sanji stopped from attacking Luffy on his slow confident walk to Hodi, was seemingly Hodi's 'right' and 'left' hands except the 1 only using his body went against Zoro, and the 1 with weapons going to Sanji.
Main Point being Oda does seem to acknowledge 'likenesses/ or even polar differing opposites' personalities, + fighting styles, + or characteristics quite often in terms of match- ups in some/ many ways/ fights.