LAS VEGAS -- David Reid knows the role the smart money has assigned him in his WBA super welterweight title defense against Felix Trinidad. He plans on playing a different part.

"I will shock the world," the underdog champion said. "That's why I took this fight. I shook the world in the 1996 Olympics and I'm going to shake the world against Trinidad."

A victory over the much more experienced Trinidad in only his 15th pro fight certainly would make Reid (14-0, seven knockouts) a major player in the arena of major money fights, but it might not be his biggest thrill.

That triumph remains, for the time being, his spectacular third-round knockout of Cuban Alfredo Duvergel in the Olympic 156-pound final. At the time, Reid was far behind in the scoring.

"There is no greater feeling than winning the gold medal for your country," Reid, 27, said. "I wasn't just winning it for myself, I was winning it for the USA."

As achievements go, however, a victory over Trinidad (36-0, 30 knockouts), a world champion since 1993, on Friday night at Caesars Palace would have to take a close second to winning the gold medal.

It also would be sort of a gold medalist's revenge. In his last fight, Trinidad retained the IBF welterweight title and won the WBC 147-pound championship on a majority decision over previously unbeaten Oscar De La Hoya, the only U.S. Olympic boxing champion in 1992. Reid was the only one four years later at Atlanta.

While Reid's spectacular Olympic victory was showed on a delayed basis by NBC, his fight Saturday night outdoors at Caesars Palace will be shown live on pay-per-view. The telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET.

"This is my first pay-per-view fight," said Reid, a Philadelphia native who will be making his third 154-pound title defense. "I am very excited because a lot of people will get to see me perform."

"He's undefeated," Trinidad said. "He's coming for glory. He wants glory."

In Trinidad, Reid will be facing an opponent who considers himself the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. The 27-year-old Puerto Rican is not alone in that opinion.

As for moving up to the 154-pound class, Trinidad said, "I feel good. I feel confident, and I am very sure of myself."

Should Trinidad win, he would have to decide whether he wants to be a junior middleweight or welterweight champion. Boxers can't simultaneously hold world titles in different weight classes.