Mayweather vs Pacquiao: Boxing is not the only sport where the best take on the best

Every once in a while a sporting rivalry comes around that stops traffic.

Fans rearrange holidays, wriggle out of family get togethers, book days off work or wake up in the middle of a Saturday night to see two athletes at the peak of their powers go head to head.

There have been some unforgettable encounters down the years - some of them one-off events and others drawn out over days, months or even years – and their elite ranks are set to be joined on May 2 when Floyd Mayweather meets Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

As we continue our build-up to the fight, we pick out the greatest sporting rivalries to grace this planet…

Lionel Messi v Cristiano Ronaldo (2008-present)

Rivalries are renowned for driving two foes to new levels of excellence but in no head-to-head has that been more evident than in Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s ongoing duel to be recognised as the best footballer on the planet. “We push each other,” says Ronaldo. “This rivalry is a good thing.”

The battle began when Ronaldo was named the best player in the world in 2008. Messi responded with a goal in Barcelona’s Champions League final triumph over Manchester United and a record-breaking four Ballon d’Or awards in a row. Ronaldo has since claimed the prestigious prize in the past two seasons – yet, the debate as to who is the greatest rages on. Fans and pundits alike remain divided. Is the athletic Portugal captain, who commanded a record transfer fee from Real Madrid in 2009, and has since gone on to become the fastest player to 200 La Liga goals in history top dog? Or does that honour belong to majestic Messi, whose dribbling trickery has helped him break the all-time scoring record in Spain’s top flight?

At least twice a season we are treated to a clash between football’s two leading lights in El Clasico, yet they remain tantalisingly tied on a record 75 Champions League goals, a record 24 La Liga hat-tricks and a record Golden Shoe haul (three). The pair have also been stars for their national teams as well as their clubs – who could forget Ronaldo’s hat-trick heroics to see off Sweden in Portugal’s World Cup play-off win in 2013, or Messi’s golden-ball winning performances as Argentina made the final in Brazil last summer?

A look at the trophy cabinets show Messi has more Champions League (3-2), league (6-4) and Ballon d’Or (4-3) titles. Yet, Ronaldo and Messi's brilliant battle to be No 1 is far for over - and for football fans that, as Ronaldo says, “is a good thing”.

Phil Taylor v Raymond van Barneveld (PDC World Championship final 2007)

Phil Taylor was enjoying one of the most dominant reigns in sporting history when he defended his World Championship title against Raymond van Barneveld. ‘The Power’ had already retained the trophy on 10 occasions since first being crowned in 1995, but the Dutchman would prove a worthy challenger. During his spell in the rival BDO ranks, Van Barneveld had collected four versions of their world trophy and wanted to knock Taylor off top spot in the PDC after switching codes. 

Billed as a dream final, these two men served up a thrilling encounter, with the result remaining in doubt until the final dart at the Circus Tavern. Taylor appeared to be blazing towards another routine victory when he built an early 3-0 lead after ice-cool checkouts of 164 and 111. But Van Barneveld responded in dazzling fashion, rattling through a 170 finish - the first time this maximum checkout had been achieved in the tournament. Instilled with fresh confidence, Barney staged a determined fight back and levelled the match at 5-5.

Both men continued to swap legs in a high quality contest and a breathless crowd were treated to even more drama as Taylor forced a deciding set. A famous victory appeared to have slipped from Van Barneveld’s grasp after he spurned four darts for the match. But with nerves jangling in a sudden death leg, he finally sealed victory to end Taylor’s 21-match unbeaten run in the tournament. 

Roger Federer v Rafael Nadal (2006-08)

Two of the greatest tennis players of all time have long been rivals but their most memorable battles have been saved for Wimbledon, and one final in particular. Federer looked unbeatable at the All England Club after conquering the Spaniard in the 2006 and 2007 finals in four and five sets respectively to claim his fourth and fifth consecutive Wimbeldon titles. The pair met again in the 2008 final and this time it was a different story.

When Nadal raced to take the first two sets it looked over, but the ice-cool Swiss superstar levelled up by winning the third and fourth sets on tie breaks. That took it to a decider, and with darkness descending over south London, Nadal finally ended Federer’s winning run by clinching an unforgettable 9-7 victory in the final set.

Greg Norman v Nick Faldo (1990-1996)

It is rare to see golf’s two top-ranked players going head-to-head in a major tournament, but Nick Faldo and Greg Norman were a notable exception in the 1990 Open Championship. Norman arrived at St Andrews ranked No 1 in the world ahead of long-time rival Faldo, and the pair were tied for the lead on 12 under at the halfway stage.

But the Australian was given a painful lesson in course management as Faldo took control of the tournament with a sublime 67, while Norman laboured to a 76. Faldo went on to win his second Open title by a commanding five-shot margin, just three months after becoming only the second man in history to defend his Masters title.

Norman gained revenge by outclassing Faldo in the final round of the 1993 Open, but the Great White Shark suffered one of the sport’s most notorious meltdowns at Augusta in 1996. Leading Faldo by six shots after 54 holes, Norman crumbled under relentless pressure from the Englishman and relinquished the lead shortly after the turn. And Faldo was not about to give up his advantage, firing a day’s-best 67 to cruise to a five-shot victory over the hapless Aussie, who laboured to a disastrous 78.

Ayrton Senna v Alain Prost (1988-1993)

One of the bitterest rivalries in sporting history was played out between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, whose hostile relationship began when the pair became team-mates at McLaren in 1988 and continued until Prost retired from Formula 1 in 1993.

In those six years they dominated the sport, Senna winning the world title three times and Prost twice, but it was their regular bust-ups on and off the track that really animated the rivalry. However, bubbling beneath all the anger was a mutual respect running so deep that after Senna’s death in 1994, Prost was a pallbearer at the funeral and said part of him had died with Senna.

Sebastian Coe v Steve Ovett (1980 Olympic Games)

Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett’s duels in the 800m and 1,500m at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow remain two of the most iconic races in Olympic history. They had met only once and so very little was known about who had the edge over the other. Coe was seen as the favourite for the 800m and Ovett was hotly tipped to win the 1,500m, having recently broken the world record and been unbeaten in the discipline in three years.

The first race was the 800m, and Ovett sprang a surprise by beating Coe into second place by half a second. Six days later they met again in the 1,500m and it seemed certain that Ovett would complete the double, but Coe conjured a remarkable performance to take gold as Ovett was forced to settle for bronze, thereby levelling up a famous rivalry at 1-1.

Steve Davis v Alex Higgins (1979-1994)

Classic rivalries involve heated battles and contrasting personalities. Let's introduce snooker legends Steve Davis and Alex Higgins. Steve 'The Nugget' Davis was labelled boring - he even had a Spitting Image puppet depicting his emotionless demeanour. He was a machine on the baize and loves chess and prog-rock. Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins was anything but dull. A flamboyant century-maker on the baize, away from the table there were endless tales of punch-ups, womanising, drinking, drugs and gambling and the fines were flowing, including one for head-butting a tournament director.  

While Davis racked up six world titles, Higgins won twice and was runner-up on two occasions. Davis dominated on the baize throughout this rivalry but never have two snooker players divided popularity in the sport. Higgins was dubbed the 'people's champion', while the love for Davis only gained momentum after hanging up his cue. Higgins may have prevailed in a testy quarter-final at the Crucible in 1980, but three years later the sweetest moment for the Belfast man arrived.

It was the 1983 Coral UK final and Higgins trailed Davis 7-0. Higgins steamed back and took the crown with a 16-15 victory. Davis later admitted his admiration for his rival and said: "He was a very competitive animal, and you knew how he was feeling at the table. That wasn’t common in a reserved game. He got a lot of people who wouldn’t have watched snooker interested, and dragged the game forward kicking and screaming. He didn’t wear a tie, he caused problems, but he was loved all the more for it and he was a snooker genius."

Bjorn Borg v John McEnroe (1978-81)

The rivalry between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe defined an era in tennis. On one side was the silky Swede, with his long blonde hair, cover-star looks and mild manner, while on the other was the temperamental and brash American, with his on-court outbursts and red headband holding back a curly mop.

The pair met 14 times on tour, winning seven apiece, but their most iconic clashes came in the four Grand Slam finals they contested. Borg won the first, at Wimbledon in 1980, but McEnroe won the following three, at the US Open in 1980 and 1981 and Wimbledon in 1981. The rivalry could have continued, but Borg decided to retire shortly after the 1981 US Open, aged just 26.

Martina Navratilova v Chris Evert (1973-1988)

Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert played out one of the most competitive and longest-standing rivalries in sporting history.

The pair probably shared one of the most friendly of rivalries. They are good friends now but that takes nothing away from their fierce desire to beat the heck out of each other on court. Evert was a right-hander, stuck to the baseline and loved a two-handed backhand. She was a blond from Florida and cool in competition. Navratilova was a left-hander who loved to chip and charge the net. More likely to be seen in the gym than the beach and brought up in former Czechoslovakia. She was also prone to emotional outbursts on court. Chalk (dust) and cheese. 

They faced each other no fewer than 80 times between 1973 and 1988, and incredibly, 61 of those were in finals, with 14 in the Grand Slams. Navratilova had the edge over Evert, winning 10 of those 14 to the American’s four, but both ended their careers neck and neck with 18 Grand Slam titles.

Arnold Palmer v Jack Nicklaus (1962-1968)

Golf’s quintessential rivalry was played out between Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, who together dominated the sport during the 1960s and took its popularity to new levels through their mutual battles. Palmer was the leading player in the world going into the 1960s, but then the up-and-coming Nicklaus beat him in a playoff to win the 1962 US Open and so began a golden era in golf, with the pair going on to finish first and second a further four times in Majors.

Nicklaus was unquestionably the more successful of the two, famously winning a record 18 Majors, but Palmer was the people’s champion and built up a following known as Arnie’s Army. Good friends off the course, the pair were also frequently joined in their rivalry by South Africa’s Gary Player, completing a triumvirate that continues to represent golf’s heyday.