Pacquiao fitted with a new mouth guard
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 30 Mar 2007
When Manny Pacquiao gets in the ring, all the details leading to the fight are meticulously taken cared of.
Take for instance, his mouth guard, a protective devise that reduces the possibility of intra-oral injuries as well as possible concussion resulting from his opponent’s punches.
Being a smart and an experienced gladiator, he knows too well that nothing beats a well fitting intra-oral protective devise. Thus, he makes sure that one is made for him for all his fights
The Pacquiao-Solis tiff is no different. Pacquiao, as early as February made arrangements with this writer to have a custom fitted mouth guard made for him. Last Sunday, impressions were taken of his dentition and yesterday evening, a brand new blue and yellow colored custom mouth guard was delivered to him.
Pacquiao will be using his new mouth guard starting today when he spars at the Wildcard Gym. Instructions on its proper use and maintenance, including how to peel it off his teeth in between rounds were given to his trainers, Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri. They in turn will show Justin Fortune how to do it. The same instructions were already given to Freddie Roach.
To many, a mouth guard is a mouth guard. Nothing can be further from the truth!
Custom fitted mouth guards made from an impression of a fighters dentition by a trained dental professional are totally different from all other mouth guards particularly the “boil and bite” mouth guards. They are made following guidelines recommended by the Academy for Sports Dentistry. They have specific thickness is certain areas to allow proper breathing, as well as to provide maximum comfort and protection for the fighters.
Custom fitted mouth guards can not be pushed off by the fighter’s tongue. The trainer needs to remove them. Thus, the instructions were provided to Pacquiao’s trainers.
Fighters using loose fitting mouth guards that they can push off with their tongue are unnecessarily living with danger. Remember Fernando Montiel at the “Moment of Truth” in Cebu? What a pity!
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THRILLA 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 2025Nikita Tszyu Health Update
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 15 Oct 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 13 OCTOBER 2025: Ennis Wipes Out Lima; Vianello Defeats Barriere; Makhmudov Outpoits Allen
By Eric Armit, Tue, 14 Oct 2025Omar Juarez Set for Homecoming Clash Against Omar Rosario on October 18 i
Tue, 14 Oct 2025