LAS VEGAS -- Felix Trinidad believes he is not alone in how he pictures himself as a fighter.

"I think the world knows I'm the best fighter, pound for pound," the IBF-WBC welterweight champion said from Puerto Rico.

But for any misguided souls who disagree, Trinidad said, "I'm going to demonstrate what kind of fighter I am."

The planned demonstration is scheduled for Friday night when Trinidad challenges David Reid for the WBA junior middleweight title on SET pay-per-view outdoors at Caesars Palace.

Trinidad, a welterweight champion since 1993, is a solid favorite to win the 154-pound title. It will be his 15th world championship bout.

"I am an underdog because Trinidad beat De La Hoya, and the winner of that fight was going to be the pound-for-pound champion," Reid said. "I just turned pro a couple of years ago, and right now, I am fighting against the best."

Trinidad defended the IBF welterweight title and won the WBC 147-pound championship on a majority decision over the previously unbeaten Oscar De La Hoya on Sept. 18.

Even without that win, Trinidad's experience would almost certainly make him the favorite. The unbeaten Reid will be making his third title defense in only his 15th pro fight since he won a gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Trinidad has a 36-0 record, with 30 knockouts, and said he feels good at the new weight. He and Reid are both 5-foot-10.

"I feel comfortable and very confident, very sure of myself," he said Tuesday.

How the move up in weight will affect Trinidad's punching power remains to be seen, as does his response to being hit by a natural 154-pounder.

Reid (14-0, 7 knockouts) hasn't won inside the distance in more than a year. But he does have good power, especially with the right hand, and Trinidad has been knocked down four times -- in the second rounds of three fights.

Trinidad, however, has not been down since the Yory Boy Campas match that he won on a fourth-round technical knockout Sept. 17, 1994, 13 fights ago.

There is another plus for Trinidad -- he has matured into a super welterweight. He had been having trouble making the 147-pound limit, although such a suggestion rankles him.

"It's possible I'll fight at 147 pounds again," he said Tuesday.

In January, however, he said that if De La Hoya wants a rematch, he would have to move up to 154 pounds. De La Hoya intends to remain a welterweight

Last Saturday night in Madison Square Garden, De La Hoya stopped Derrell Coley in the seventh round of an elimination bout that would make him the WBC welterweight champion if Trinidad relinquishes the title.

Bob Arum, De La Hoya's promoter, and Don King, Trinidad's promoter, are negotiating for a fight at the contract weight of 150 pounds.

If Trinidad beats Reid, he must decide whether he wants to be a super welterweight champion or welterweight champion. Fighters cannot simultaneously hold titles in different weight classes.

The Reid-Trinidad telecast will start at 9 p.m. ET.