LAS VEGAS -- Matching ego and talent, Felix Trinidad Jr., and Fernando Vargas forced a coin toss to determine who will enter the ring first for their junior middleweight title showdown Saturday night.

"Whoever wins the coin toss can elect to receive," Don King, Trinidad's promoter, joked Wednesday at the final news conference.

Using a coin that said "Mandalay Bay" on one side and "100 dollars" on the other, the toss was made by Marc Ratner, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission and also a football game official for the Mountain West Conference.

"Mandalay Bay" was called by Gary Shaw, chief operating officer for Main Events, Vargas' promoter.

Trinidad got to take the first ego trip when the coin turned up "100 dollars." He elected to enter the ring second, which is the traditional star's entrance in boxing. Vargas then will be cast in the star's role by being introduced second in the ring.

The coin toss was implemented when the camps of the two champions failed to agree on how to settle the matter, which is of little importance to fans but is very meaningful to fighters in their battle of gamesmanship.

Trinidad was a 7-5 favorite in the pay-per-view bout in what King said was a sold- out Mandalay Bay Events Center, which seats a few hundred less than 12,000. Tickets are priced from $1,500 down to $50.

"If they judge Trinidad's performance against David Reid, then a lot of people are going to lose money," said Vargas (20-0, 18 knockouts). "I'm not David Reid."

The 27-year-old Trinidad (38-0, 31 knockouts), of Puerto Rico, a former WBC-IBF welterweight champion, won the WBA 154-pound title on a one-sided decision over Reid on March 3, This will be his second defense.

In his first fight since losing to Trinidad, Reid was unimpressive in outpointing Kirino Garcia Sunday, and Vargas suggested that Trinidad will be facing a much tougher opponent.

"I was better than him (Reid) and I'm better than Vargas, too," Trinidad said simply through an interpreter.

It will be sixth title defense for Vargas, of Oxnard, Calif., who will turn 23 Dec. 7, since he won the IBF championship by stopping Yory Boy Campas in the seventh round Dec. 12, 1998.