Surfer has better flight speed but Superman has better combat speed. More destructive energy? Superman only has heat vision he makes for it with his punches.
Ya Superman also beats all lanterns in power department.
Punches only get you so far. Especially when said punches can't cause the amount of destruction that Surfer or even Gladiator can.
How? Green Lanterns tank Black Hole's and can do all kinds of niifty tricks. GL's have also destroyed planets, something Supes can't do with his punches.
It's the truth most of the feats you will find of Surfer are energy blast which are hard to quantify you will find better Superman combat feat for sure.
Punches has worked damn well so far. Especially considering Superman beats on people with punches where versatile people have been K.O rather easily.
Just think about how many powerful opponents Superman punches ftw and you will not understate his fist.
Superman has tanked Blank Holes to , also Superman is more durable than your better lanterns. Nifty tricks is versatility not power which obviously they are more versatile than Superman. Superman punches have K.O GL's with their shield on.
Again I don't mind that you think Surfer is more powerful. Which is fine but don't say that Surfer is much more powerful which is hardly the case considering the opponents Superman has defeated in the past.
The stronger GL shields have Blocked Supernovae, Ultraman(equal to supes IIRC), and Planet-Busting attacks.
Supes could never get through those. As for the Black Hole, Supes never tanked a big one. He only held one for a few seconds, and had to escape from another one.
Yes Supes has fought powerful creatures, but he doesn't reach Surfer's power output. You need him to be Sundipped to really reach those levels. Baseline Supes is a moon-buster. Surfer is above that.