Master of the mouthpiece

Dr. Ed de la Vega, a retired dentist, is willing to bet any amount that the mouthpiece he makes for a fighter will never fall off during a match. Each gumshield he produces goes through a three-day cooling process and is fitted exactly to protect a fighter's mouth, staying intact through an airlock system resistant to impact from a blow. It also can't be spat out and can be removed only if pried out by hand.

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Through the years, Dr. De la Vega has molded nearly 1,000 mouthpieces. In 2007, he took Manny Pacquiao's impression for the Marco Antonio Barrera rematch and has since provided the ring icon with a mouthpiece for every fight up to the recent Mario Barrios encounter. "For every fight, I take an impression and make a new mouthpiece," he said. "It's my way of honoring Manny for what he's done for our country, for the honor he gives to our people. Every mouthpiece is priceless and I refuse payment from Manny and all the Filipino fighters whom I provide mouthpieces."

Dr. De la Vega's passion for boxing is consummate. Aside from supplying gumshields, he has served as a cutman and now dabbles in boxing photography. Dr. De la Vega has credentials to attend fights in whatever capacity he chooses.