CATHEDRAL CITY ? As soon as Timothy Bradley got the 45-foot passenger bus provided to him by his promoters Top Rank, he realized his driver is the same one who drove Manny Pacquiao’s last three opponents.
The bus, with Bradley’s picture plastered on both sides, is for Bradley’s use for two weeks. It’s to help promote Saturday’s fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It’s a customary perk Top Rank provides its boxers for fights against Pacquiao.
Pacquiao’s last three opponents, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez were all chauffeured by Darrick White, who is also Bradley’s driver.
The fact White is 0-3 didn’t bother Bradley at all.
?I said, ?You’re with a winner now. We’re going to break the cycle,’? Bradley said. ?You were with all the losers before, but you’re with a winner now. He said, ?I hope so’. I told him, we’re going to turn hope into belief.?
White will drive Bradley to Las Vegas today for a week of promotions leading up to the WBO welterweight championship bout against Pacquiao. The pay-per-view event will earn Bradley his richest payday ever, with $5 million guaranteed. That amount can double depending on the amount of buys from the pay-per-view.
Bradley said they’ve used the 56-passenger bus to give a ride to the Cathedral City Junior All-American football team, a program Bradley and his wife Monica help run. They have also used the bus to pick up their children Robert and Alaysia from school.
Bradley has ridden the bus around while going to restaurants and running errands.
?When I get off the bus, people want to take pictures and get autographs,? Bradley said. ?It’s crazy. I get a lot of fist bumps, and when people drive by, they’re honking their horns. People tell me they’re praying for me. I’m telling them their prayers will be answered.?
The bus will take around 20 people, mostly members of Team Bradley, similar to Bradley’s trip last week to Los Angeles. With several children on board, the entertainment for that trip was a Chipmunks movie.
Bradley wasn’t sure what movies will be rented for the Las Vegas trip, but he doesn’t plan on watching.
?We’re in the home stretch, so I’ll just be in the zone, chilling and watching (10-month-old daughter) Jada,? Bradley said. ?I’m just going to focus on the task at hand.?
