Agree with most of your post and an fully aware of the difference between The Ring and Lineal. Jones Jr being the perfect example.

You say it is clear cut but I disagree simply because who decides #1 and #2. In the old days it was the former champion (like heavyweight for example). Your right, with so many different rankings this can be debated, Ward at 168 for example, could be debated that Bute was ahead of Froch. And the whole Wlad/Povetkin, Vitali was still WBC champ until December 2013 when he retired. If he was still champion, it can be argued that he should have been ahead of Povetkin.

I generally agree with most of The Ring champs, although currently I view Ken Shiro as the lineal chap at 108, The Ring currently recognises Budler. I also disagree that the upcoming Groves/Smith fight should be for their title, Groves is #1 for me, but #2 is debatable, Benavidez and Ramirez could also be in the mix.

Without 1 main authority setting the rankings, or limit on how many belts are required (The Ring never used to recognise the WBO, now 4 main belts is the norm like Usyk and Crawford did) there will always be disagreement.