The One Piece Manga May Have Revealed Joy Boy’s Biggest Rival

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This article contains spoilers for the One Piece manga

The Void Century is a major unsolved mystery in *One Piece*, but recent chapters of the manga suggest the author, Eiichiro Oda, is gradually revealing its significance. Chapter 1159, in particular, contains a wealth of new information that has led to many fan theories, especially regarding the Rocks Pirates. Sharp-eyed readers also noticed a reference to a character now confirmed to have lived during this long-ago period.

For some time, fans have known that Joy Boy, often considered the first pirate in the world of *One Piece*, lived 800 years ago during a period called the Void Century. Besides the giant robot Emmett, little was known about who else was alive then. However, recently, fans have gotten a glimpse of a very powerful figure who is strongly hinted to have been Joy Boy’s rival.

Davy Jones Exists

Rocks Confirms The Devilish Pirate Is More Than Just A Myth

  • Rocks reveals to Harald he is a descendant of Davy Jones
  • The government have been trying to erase the Davy clan for many years
  • Davy Jones was probably a significant threat during the Void Century

I’ve noticed the name Davy Jones come up a few times in *One Piece*, and it’s always been a bit unclear if he was a real person or just a legend. Robin mentioned to Chopper during the Long Ring Long Land arc that some believe he was a wicked pirate who lived at the bottom of the sea. Interestingly, the Straw Hats had a competition called the Davy Back Fight in that same arc, which seems to be based on this Davy Jones character.

Nico Robin describes a pirate from the distant past who was cursed by the devil to exist forever on the ocean floor, and is believed to still be there today.

Thanks to recent discoveries, it’s been proven that David Jones was a real historical figure. What’s more, Rocks D. Xebec is actually a descendant of Jones, belonging to the famous Davy family. This connection also extends to Marshall D. Teach, better known as Blackbeard, and may explain how he’s able to wield the powers of two Devil Fruits.

The revelation of Davy Jones’ existence is surprising enough, but Rocks adds that the World Government has been actively trying to wipe out any trace of the Davy family from history – similar to their efforts with Joy Boy. This makes sense, as both figures lived during the Void Century, a period the government is determined to erase from historical records. It also hints that Davy Jones and Joy Boy might have been more connected than fans previously thought.

The Mysterious Pirate Would Have Been A Perfect Rival To Joy Boy

But Could He Have Ever Defeated Him In Combat?

Considering Joy Boy once possessed the incredibly powerful Nika fruit – now held by Luffy – he must have been an exceptionally strong pirate in his prime. While it would be unremarkable if Joy Boy were the only pirate on the seas, Davy Jones seems like the most likely candidate to have been his rival, given his own impressive and well-known reputation.

Fans consider both Rocks and Blackbeard to be incredibly powerful characters in *One Piece*, so it’s fitting that Davy Jones would also be a major threat. So far, Joy Boy has been portrayed as a selfless pirate who wanted to free the world – a typical characteristic for someone wielding the Sun God Nika’s power.

“Whenever it happens, I’ll be saving you from here in the past, just like always” – Joy Boy

Unlike Rocks and Blackbeard, Davy Jones likely wasn’t a hero, but more of a villain. He probably wasn’t working *with* the World Government, but he definitely had his own ambitions. It seems those ambitions would have clashed with Joy Boy’s goals, and Oda suggests they often crossed paths as powerful pirates. This rivalry seems to be a repeating theme throughout history in the One Piece world.

A Classic Tale Of Good Versus Evil Repeats Itself

The Ancient Rivalry Has Seemingly Lived On For Many Years

  • Rocks and Joy Boy started a feud which has appeared with each generation
  • Luffy and Blackbeard mirror the rivalry that first formed hundreds of years ago

Based on the limited information Eiichiro Oda has shared about Joy Boy and Davy Jones, it’s clear they strongly resemble other characters we’ve already met in the series. Joy Boy was a beacon of hope who famously wore a straw hat, and Davy Jones appears to have been his opposite – setting the stage for a long-lasting conflict between good and evil.

Several centuries later, the old conflict appears to continue with Rocks and Roger. While they hadn’t clashed much before the God Valley Incident, it was obvious they disliked each other, creating a rivalry that strongly resembles the one between Joy Boy and Davy Jones.

Luffy and Blackbeard mirror the roles of the ancient figures they resemble. While Blackbeard is a more straightforward villain than his father, Rocks D. Xebec – who prioritized his crew above all else – Luffy seems to be a near-perfect match for Joy Boy. This includes continuing a long-standing rivalry that began during the enigmatic Void Century.

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2025-09-18 03:47