PACQUIAO?S NEW MOUTHGUARD: IT DOES NOT COST $25K, BUT IT WILL PROTECT HIM VERY WELL
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 10 Apr 2015
Early this morning, 6 am to be exact, I got a call from fellow PhilBoxing photographer, Jhay Otamias, telling me that a number of media folks need to talk to me regarding the issue about mouthguards after news came out that Mayweather Junior will be using a ?$25,000 mouthguard encrusted with gold flakes, diamonds and a hundred dollar bill? for the fight on May 2nd. Besides, he said, Team Pacquiao is also looking for me.
Otamias also suggested that perhaps it would be better if I make a trip to the Pan Pacific Park as Manny will be there and of course, the usual media folks and the Pacfans.
You see, I do not go to the Wildcard Gym because I respect Freddie Roach?s request for some space for Manny while he trains. More importantly, I was confident the mouthguard Pacquiao used versus Algieri in Macao still fits and function well. In fact, he had used it in the past days for sparring.
But he wants a new mouthguard.
So, I made efforts to be at the Pan Pacific Park.
I got there just after 7:00 am thanks to the very light traffic and waited till Pacquiao came running in.
When Manny begun his stretching and other exercises, I walk to the little corner of the park that he usually occupy during training.
As soon as he spotted me in the crowd, the first words that came off his mouth were:- ?Where?s my new mouthguard??.
Without saying a word, I whipped out the new mouthguard and handed it to him. I had it ready for two weeks but I am just so busy at work I didn?t have time to bring it over to him.
He took a couple of minutes to admire the color then winked to me in approval before he placed it in his mouth.
I waited for him to comment as he jumps around and did shadow boxing simulating a fight. After a few minutes he tried to take it off but had a difficult time removing it because he was pulling it off from the wrong side. I yelled a few instructions and Buboy Fernandez took it off without any problem.
Such are the mouthguards I make for Pacquiao or any other athlete. They will not come off with push of the tongue or if pulled off the wrong way. They are made to stay particularly during combat. But there is a special way to remove them. Buboy and Freddie Roach know the technique.
Pacquiao?s comments? ?Fits good and I like the color!?
Fernandez then handed me the mouthguard after he washed it so I can show it to the media and answer their questions.
Funny, the predominant question I was asked was ?what are the benefits of the $100 encrusted in the mouthguard of Mayweather??
My reply was short and simple. ?The $100 inserts with the reported gold flakes and diamonds incorporated in Mayweather Junior?s mouthguard and its ridiculous cost will not in any manner, shape or form aid in the true functions of a mouthguard.?
?But they will satisfy Junior?s gigantic ego.?
?The whole issue is a charade. It is nothing but a hype?!
Incidentally, I did not gave the mouthguard to Pacquiao this morning although he says it ?fits well.?
This afternoon I met him at the Wildcard gym and with the approval of Freddie Roach and the Team, I was ushered to his dressing room, with only assistant trainer Roger Fernandez witnessing the private procedure, I re-checked the fit to assure that the mouthguard is not too tight or too loose, the occlusion is correct, there are no over or under extensions of the borders, the muscle attachment are provided enough space to move around and do not cut when the mouthguard is used.
Needless to say, Pacquiao was pleased with his new mouthguard.
Pacquiao?s new mouthguard did not cost him $25,000. It does not have any un-necessary foolish inserts like a $100 dollar bill, gold flakes or diamond dust. It was presented to him as a free gift to show respect for what he has done for the Filipino people. Such is the Filipino culture! Many times there is more to life than money.
Pacquiao checks his new mouthguard with the author (top photo) and closs on the mouthguard (above).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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