SUAREZ AND LADON FITTED WITH OLYMPIC-GRADE MOUTHGUARDS
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 22 Jun 2016
Canoga Park, CA:- Philippine Olympic boxing hopefuls, Charly Suarez (132 lbs) and Rogen Lagon (108.lbs) are two lucky young men. They have great support from PLDT head honcho, Mr. Manny Pangilinan and a whole bunch of Philippine boxing personalities, notably Mr. Ed Picson and Coach Pat Gaspi.
On top of that, they have an additional mentor who is not only good but smart as well, in Dodong Donaire of Las Vegas. I say, ?smart? because Donaire recognizes the importance of custom mouthguards and their functions- unlike many big names coaches who flout the value of these protective units. This ignorance lead to some of them even selling boxers that train in their gym cheap ready-made mouthguards that go for a couple of dollars in the market.
Today, Donaire drove Suarez and Ladon from Las Vegas to our offices to be fitted with custom mouthguards that are Olympic-grade. Yes, there are requirements for Olympic mouthguards. Foremost of these requirements is the ban on the use of ?red-color? mouthguards so that referees and judges will not confuse the color for blood.
Aware of the ban on the red color, we decided to make them blue mouthguards to go with their predominantly blue outfits instead of what they really deserved - the traditional four colors of the Philippine flag. But, we made sure that all the qualities of a great mouthguard went with what we made for them including the Olympic requirements.
The mouthguards will not guarantee a gold medal but it will guarantee that their dentition will be well protected for the lifetime of their new mouthguards.
One ironic thing about the weight class of Suarez is the fact that the 132 pound boxer who will represent the USA (Carlos Balderas of Sta. Maria, CA)) will also be using a custom mouthguard we fabricated. Balderas is a patient in our offices since he was 7 years old and we made every single mouthguard he had used since he started fighting at age 8 in amateurs all over California.
Suarez and Ladon were brought to our offices at 10 am for custom impressions. They then proceeded to the Wildcard Gym in Hollywood for a visit and a photo-op. At 4 pm they came back and their mouthguards were fitted.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
PIONEERING FILIPINO BOXERS TAKE SPOTLIGHT ON FIL-AM HISTORY MONTH (PART I)
By Dong Secuya, Thu, 16 Oct 2025BOXING HALL OF FAME RELEASES FALL 2025 LETTER OF APPEAL SEEKING FUNDRAISING SUPPORT
Thu, 16 Oct 2025Mendoza bags bronze
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 16 Oct 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 20: MUHAMMAD ALI VS. JOE FRAZIER III ON OCTOBER 1, 1975 AT THE ARANETA COLISEUM
By Maloney L. Samaco, Thu, 16 Oct 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: History of Boxing in Reynosa, Tamaulipas
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Thu, 16 Oct 2025YORK HALL PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AS CONWAY AND LIDDARD GET SET FOR HUGE DOMESTIC CLASH
Wed, 15 Oct 2025Unbeaten Super Featherweight Contender Andres Cortes Set for Return on October 18 Against Derlyn Hernandez-Geraldo in Long Beach
Wed, 15 Oct 2025JOEL “LETHAL” LEWIS RETURNS NOV 28TH THUNDERDOME 52 – METRO CITY PERTH
Wed, 15 Oct 2025Shane Mosley Sr. Blasts Oscar De La Hoya of Blocking Son’s Title Shot, Calls for Trilogy Fight on Drew & Pris Uncensored podcast
Wed, 15 Oct 2025MASOUD vs McGRAIL HEADLINES BLOCKBUSTER MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI CARD ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 – LIVE ON DAZN
Wed, 15 Oct 2025WFM Mendoza seizes lead in 2025 FIDE World Youth Chess Championship
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 15 Oct 2025YOENLI HERNANDEZ KNOCKS OUT RAMON DELACRUZ SENA IN FIRST ROUND OF MAIN EVENT OF FISTS OF FURY 8
Wed, 15 Oct 2025BEN WHITTAKER TITLE SHOT CONFIRMED WITH PRESS CONFERENCE THIS FRIDAY
Wed, 15 Oct 2025GOLDEN BOY ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP TO BOOST AMATEUR TALENT IN CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO
Wed, 15 Oct 2025SHANNON RYAN: I'M READY TO BRING 'KAOS' TO YORK HALL THIS WEEK
Wed, 15 Oct 2025