COACHELLA ? Jorge Barrera had a pair of boxing gloves that, until Saturday, had been lying around his house for several years.
But now that they’ve been signed by Timothy Bradley, the Indio man plans to take better care of the gloves.
?I’m going to frame them,? said Barrera, 29. ?If he wins, their value’s going to go way up.?
With two weeks before his June 9 WBO Welterweight Championship bout against Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas, Bradley, 28, signed autographs Saturday at Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella.
A line of people waiting to meet the ?Desert Storm? stretched across the casino, snaking around slot machines and blocking the paths of local gamblers.
One by one, and occasionally in pairs, people stepped onto a platform, shook the Cathedral City boxer’s hand and wished him luck in his fight and then posed with Bradley for pictures.
?It’s amazing; I never thought it’d be like this,? Bradley said as he signed a photo. ?But in order to be a superstar, you need a following.?
By the time the event began at 2:30 p.m., 50 people had lined up with others gradually joining the fun.
New fans and old fans alike were among those waiting to meet Bradley, and they all agreed he had a good shot at dethroning the champ.
?He’s got the speed, the strength and the endurance to do it,? said Indio resident Dave Morgan, 64.
Adding that his sons know Bradley.
Morgan described the boxer as hardworking, competitive, and ?not real arrogant.?
?I don’t think he gets the attention he deserves,? Morgan said.
Coachella resident Juliet Hernandez conceded she has heard of Bradley in the past, but only became a fan about two months ago because he’s ?a hometown hero.?
She doesn’t expect Pacquiao to be a pushover, but she’s throwing all her support behind Bradley.
?Maybe he’s an underdog, and that can work for him,? said Hernandez, 31. ?He might be underestimated.?
