I think for the Ring title to regain credibility, it's championship policy should become stricter if anything. Obviously they can recognise anyone they want, but if they want their belt (which I really like by the way, and holds lots of history) to be taken seriously and respected as the hallmark, they should only go outside the standed 1 vs 2, in extreme circumstances (see Wlad vs Chagaev, or cases where the 2 & 3 are considered as close to equal as possible).

With the upcoming Groves/Smith fight, I agree Groves is clearly #1. But with guys like Ramirez and Benavidez, who could make a case for being rated ahead of Smith, I think it would be better to leave the title vacant. Filling vacant titles, just for the sake of filling titles is not the answer.