REID LEARNS LESSON THE HARD WAY.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Boxing

LAS VEGAS - Don't ever underestimate the value of experience.

That lesson - which should already be drummed into our heads - was provided by wily Felix Trinidad when he disassembled David Reid to win the WBA junior middleweight title here Friday night.

Reid has the physical tools to compete with Trinidad. He proved that in the first six rounds of the fight, after which he led by two points on all cards.

He also has the courage. That he was standing on his feet at the final bell is remarkable.

However, with only 14 fights worth of experience, he lost his way at the two key junctions of the fight and squandered any chance to win as a result.

One, he failed to follow up after he put Trinidad down with a straight right in the third round.

A more experienced fighter - or perhaps one with a more aggressive nature - would've delivered a flurry of hard punches at least until it was clear Trinidad had recovered. Reid, overly cautious, wasted a rare opportunity by standing back and admiring his work.

Secondly, Reid fell apart after the resounding left hook Trinidad landed in the seventh round.

The young Philadelphia fighter, who staggered to the ropes and then fell, appeared to be hurt physically and psychologically. In other words, he lost his legs and his confidence.

A more experienced fighter would've understood that all who step into the ring are faced with such moments. The idea is to do what it takes to survive, clear your head and get back to the game plan.

Trinidad is the perfect example. He knows he can recover from a knockdown and win convincingly. He's done it many times - and he did it again against Reid.

On Friday, he said, he told himself as he sat on the canvas: ``When I get up, it's going to be all over for David Reid.''

Al Mitchell, Reid's trainer, admitted that such composure gleaned from many years in the ring often is the difference in a fight.

``For six rounds, we weren't outclassed. And then the experience set in,'' he said.

The result was the type of brutal beating from which it's difficult to bounce back.

Oh, Reid will fight again. However, his confidence - a tremendously invaluable commodity in this business - had to be damaged. Only time will tell when or if it will return to its pre-Trinidad level.

In retrospect, it's clear that promoter Dan Goossen and others who guide Reid's career made a terrible mistake: They pushed him too hard, too fast.

The guy won a gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He won a world championship by outpointing tough, but limited Laurent Boudouani in only his 12th fight. His future seemed to be limitless.

A year or two from now, after another six, seven fights, he might've been ready to face the likes of Felix Trinidad. On Friday, he wasn't ready.

Hopefully, those who guide the careers of other talented young fighters were watching.

Big statement: Trinidad regained any respect he might've lost in his disappointing performance against Oscar De La Hoya in September.

He's an efficient boxer with considerable power. And, obviously more comfortable at 154 pounds than 147, he even seemed to be quicker than he was against De La Hoya.

However, he still seems to have trouble when his opponent moves well. Reid, even with his limited experience, was winning halfway through the fight because of his movement.

Trinidad will always have trouble with a fighter like De La Hoya, one who can move well, has quick hands and has enough power to hurt an opponent.

De La Hoya-Trinidad: Don't expect to see a rematch between De La Hoya and Trinidad this year.

De La Hoya, committed to fighting Shane Mosley in June, according to Bob Arum, his promoter, is also committed to remaining at 147 pounds for at least a year. Meanwhile, Trinidad, who looked comfortable at 154 in his victory over Reid, won't go back down to the welterweight limit.

A ``catch weight'' of around 150 is possible, but unlikely. Neither side seems willing to compromise.

Of course, the money - $20 million each - is a compelling incentive. However, both fighters can make plenty against other big-name opponents while they wait for De La Hoya to move up to 154.

Arum compared the rivalry to that of Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns, who fought in 1981 and then not again until 1987.

He said the fighters made more money in the second fight. However, it had lost much of its significance six years after the fact.

Let's hope De La Hoya and Trinidad don't wait that long.

Looking ahead: Trinidad actually has more compelling options than De La Hoya.

The Puerto Rican could face the winner of the April 15 Fernando Vargas- Ike Quartey bout and there's talk that middleweight champ Bernand Hopkins might move down to junior middleweight to get in on the action.

De La Hoya is talking about fighting Vernon Forrest, Shannan Taylor and Arturo Gatti if he fights and beats Mosley in June.

Staples: Arum, who has yet to decide whether De La Hoya and Mosley will fight at Staples Center or Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, is scheduled to meet with Staples Center officials today.

Arum said L.A. is the ``front-runner.''

``If it happens here (in Las Vegas), it will be written about as a good fight,'' he said. ``If it happens in L.A., with both fighters from L.A., it will be more of an event.'' De La Hoya and Mosley have yet to sign for the fight but Arum said a formal announcement could come as soon as next week.

Interested bystander: Vargas, who was in Las Vegas for the fight, said Reid lost his best chance to beat Trinidad in the third round.

``It didn't really take a lot for (Trinidad) to get hurt,'' he said. ``I don't think (Reid) capitalized on that. I think he was intimidated by Trinidad's presence more than anything.

``When he wanted to throw, I thought he was connecting good and that any moment Trinidad could go.''

Vargas is an early 2-1 favorite to beat Quartey.

Regrets: Johnny Tapia had to be watching Paulie Ayala's title defense against Johnny Bredahl on Saturday and wondering: How did that guy beat me?

Ayala, who last year handed Tapia his first defeat and was named The Ring's magazine's Fighter of the Year as a result, looked ordinary against Bredahl, an active but weak-punching European champion.

Ayala has good but not great boxing skills and is tough. However, he's easy to hit and he has no power.

Wrong call: Christy Martin's victory over Belinda Laracuente on the Trinidad-Reid undercard was the latest shameful example of a house fighter receiving an undeserved decision.

Laracuente, a skillful boxer, made Martin look foolish and won at least five of eight rounds. Still, Martin was awarded a majority decision.

Martin fights for promoter Don King.

More Martin: We might've seen Martin vs. Lucia Rijker for the first and last time.

At a public workout last week in L.A. to promote the Trinidad-Reid card, Rijker confronted Martin about disparaging comments Martin had made about her. Martin pushed her and Rijker decked her with a left hook. Moments later, Martin went after Rijker and was nailed with another punch.

Score it two 10-8 rounds for Rijker. However, she might lose in the end.

``I'm not going to reward that kind of behavior,'' King said. ``I'm not interested in a (Martin) fight with Lucia Rijker.''

Rijker, recognized as far superior to Martin in ability, has been trying to lure Martin into the ring for years.

Rabbit punches: Bridget Riley of Burbank is scheduled to fight April 13 at the Pond. Her opponent has yet to be determined. . . .

Shibata Flores, the WBA's No. 3-ranked junior middleweight who has fought many times in the L.A. area, will face Paul Vaden on the Vargas- Quartey undercard.

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Photo: Paulie Ayala, right, looked good but not great Saturday while defending his bantamweight title against a limited Johnny Bredahl.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press