Mayweather uses £16,000 mouth guard stuffed

THE world has never treated people equally. Some have their ways paved with gold, while there are many who toil day and night in harsh conditions for food and shelter.

That is exemplified by the contrasting fortunes of America’s Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather and Serafim Todorov, the Bulgarian, who is recorded as the last man to beat the world champion.

According to Eurosport, Mayweather has so much money, which he loves to flaunt, even if it means finding innovative ways to do so with mouth guards.

He even pays New York dentist, Dr. Lee Gause, ‘a mere $25,000 (£16,000) to make each of his custom teeth-protectors just how he likes it. And yes, that involves using gold flakes, diamonds and real $100 bills (£62), which are stuffed inside.’

Justifying his action, Mayweather said, “My career’s gone on 19 years and I’ve been able to preserve my smile.”

Eurosport added: “Dr. Gause apparently flies out to Vegas to customise the fit for ‘Money’ before a fight, which the boxer believes helps him breathe better.

It’s a good job, frankly, given he’s spending £16,000 on the things.”

Meanwhile, the last man, who officially won a fight against Mayweather lives in near squalid conditions in his hometown of Pazardzhik in Bulgaria, a far cry from the jet-set lifestyle of the man he beat almost 20 years ago in the Olympics.

Serafim Todorov, who was awarded a controversial 10-8 decision in their featherweight semifinal matchup, told the New York Times in an article that appeared two days ago that he gets a monthly pension of 400 Euros ($435).

But the money doesn’t go a long way since he shares an apartment with his wife Albena and son Simeon and his pregnant daughter-in-law.

In contrast, Mayweather lives a life of luxury and on May 2 the unbeaten fighter will earn at least $120 million for facing Manny Pacquiao, who is guaranteed $80 million.

When everything is all accounted for, Mayweather might end up going home with $150 million, figures that Todorov, now pushing 46, never dreamt of.

In the 1996 Games, Todorov, then a ripe 27 and a three-time world amateur champion and two-time European kingpin, and Mayweather, just 19, battled on even terms with the Egyptian referee mistakenly raising his arms, thinking he had done enough to merit the decision. But it was the arms of Todorov, who got raised and the Bulgarian eventually earned a gold medal match against Thailand Somluck Kamsing.

Todorov believes Emil Jetchev, an influential Bulgarian head of the AIBA’s referee and officials had a hand in his victory over Mayweather and his stunning loss to Kamsing.