Floyd Mayweather junior returned to the ring after almost two years on Saturday and promptly added to his unbeaten record… but then some sportsmen simply transcend even the best in the business. We list some of sports greatest champions.

When Floyd Mayweather earned a 12-round decision over Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez in a non-title welterweight bout on Saturday, he ensured that not only would he remain unbeaten, improving to 40-0 with 25 wins inside the distance, but he was assured of sporting greatness.

In the world of professional sports there always seems to be that one guy who is better than everybody else, who dominates even the most talented sportsmen from across the globe. We list 10 sportsmen who are better than the best.

Roger Federer:

The gap may have been closing on the Swiss maestro over the past two years, but Federer is still undoubtedly the best in the business. 61 career titles, — 15 of which are Grand Slams — a career Grand Slam, a record 237 weeks as the world number one, and loads of other records, are testimony to just how much he has dominated the sport. The greatest player of his generation, and arguably the best ever, Federer will be a tough act to follow.

Michael Schumacher:

Accord to the official Formula One website, Schumacher is 'statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen'. The numbers certainly add up too. The German superstar holds the record for most drivers' championships, race victories, fastest laps, pole positions, points scored and most races won in a single season. He is also the only driver to have an entire season of podium finishes. You can't argue with the facts…

Tiger Woods:

You have to feel for the current crop of golfers. Forced to play at the time of arguably the greatest golfer to have played the game can't be easy. Woods has won 14 Majors (the second most ever), 71 PGA tour events (third on all-time list), but with time on his side it is almost guaranteed he will surpass both before he retires. Woods is the youngest player to achieve the career Grand Slam, and the youngest — and fastest — to win 50 tournaments on tour. In golf, there is Tiger Woods, and then everybody else.

Michael Phelps:

Considered one of the greatest swimmers of all-time, Michael Phelps shattered expectations and gained sporting immortality when he claimed a record eight gold medals at last year's Olympic Games in Beijing. Overall the American has won 16 Olympic medals — second only to the 18 of Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina — and at 24 you can bet there are more to come. His exploits in the pool have earned Phelps the World Swimmer of the Year Award in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008… we're betting he will add 2009 to the list too.

Usain Bolt:

The Jamaican superstar only started racing competitively in the 100 metres two years ago, but since then he has dominated like no other. Can you imagine how pissed the rest of the world's sprinters must be? Bolt may be competing against the world's best, but in reality he is competing against himself because nobody else even comes close. He breaks world records at will, eats junk food before the race and hams it up for the cameras in the blocks. Bolt can only get better, which really is quite frightening.

Floyd Mayweather:

Floyd 'The Money' Mayweather is certainly not universally loved, but you can't argue with a record of 40-0 (25 KOs). From 18 July 2005, to 2 June 2008 Mayweather was rated by The Ring magazine as the number one pound for pound boxer in the world. The American boxer has won six world boxing championships in five different weight classes and, with a personality to match his skills, Mayweather is arguably the biggest draw in boxing.

Rafael Nadal:

In an era dominated by Roger Federer, only Nadal can challenge the Swiss maestro, but it is on clay that the Spaniard has proved close to untouchable. Nadal's breakout win came at the 2005 French Open and he kept on winning until finally succumbing to Robin Soderling at Roland Garros this year, but not before racking up a record of 31 consecutive wins at the tournament. The Spaniard also holds the record for the longest single-surface winning streak on clay — a massive 81 wins stretching from 2005 to 2007. His exploits on the surface has earned him the nickname of 'The King of Clay' and, unless injuries continue to curtail him, Nadal is most likely to dominate the sport after Federer hangs up his racquet.

Sergey Bubka:

Repeatedly voted as the world's best athlete, legendary pole-vaulter Sergey Bubka won six IAAF World Championships, an Olympic gold and broke the world record 35 times. Bubka would likely have added more Olympic gold if injury and the boycott of 1984 had not interfered. He broke the outdoor world record 17 times and the indoor world record 18 times — due to the large prizes on offer, Bubka tended to raise his own mark by 1cm and then call it a day — and still holds both world records more than 10 years later.

Sebastian Loeb:

The French rally driver only switched to the sport in 1995 and went on to win his first driver's title in 2004. He has dominated the WRC ever since, taking a record fifth consecutive title in 2008. In addition to his overwhelming success in rallying, Loeb is also a three-time winner at the Race of Champions — an international event held at the end of each year, featuring some of the world's best racing and rally drivers.

Live cricket scoring Follow all the LIVE action from the ICC Champions Trophy match between SA and Sri Lanka HERE!

The Tri-Nations awards We present our Tri-Nations awards, where we sat in judgment of the players, coaches and teams.

Better than the best Some sportsmen just dominate their peers, we take a look at those who are better than the best.