Alcoba cools down during his WBA title fight against Sturm

Spaniard Pablo Navascues has pulled out because of an ankle injury and Noe Tulio Gonzalez Alcoba of Uruguay has stepped in to face Duddy.

Alcoba's defeat to Felix Sturm in June was his first in 15 fights.

Meanwhile, Duddy is a possible opponent for new undisputed world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik next March.

American Pavlik claimed the world middleweight crown with a seventh-round stoppage of Jermain Taylor on Saturday.

Pavlik's promoter Bob Arum is already taking about Duddy as a possible opponent for the new champion.

"People have mentioned a fight with John Duddy. That would be huge in Madison Square Garden," said Arum.

"That would be right before St Patrick's Day."

Arum expects Pavlik to have a rematch against Taylor but he wants his fighter to have another contest before the return bout.

Duddy has claimed 21 straight wins and his last bout was a 10th-round stoppage win over Italian journeyman Alessio Furlan in July.

Alcoba's sole defeat came against Sturm in a WBA middleweight title fight in Germany.

"I learned a lot from my fight with Sturm and that defeat will make me a better fighter," said the 28-year-old.

"I know that Duddy will be a very hard fight but my dream is to become world champion, for me and Uruguay.

"My life hasn't been easy and I want to make it better. Beating Duddy will be the next step to another world title fight and realising my dream."