Unbeaten Duddy gets new opponent

Unbeaten Irish middleweight John Duddy has a change of opponent for his bout in New York on 18 May. IBA champion Duddy had been matched with American journeyman Elvin Ayala but now instead will take on Dupre Strickland at the Beacon Theatre. Duddy has top-10 rankings with both the WBA and the WBO and he is being linked with a possible European title challenge in the summer. The Derryman beat Anthony Bonsante in nine rounds in New York last month. Finland's European champion Amin Asikainen defends his title against Germany's Sebastian Sylvester on 26 May and there are suggestions that the winner could box Duddy in Ireland in the late summer. Duddy has won all his 19 professional bouts while Strickland has 18 wins in his 20-bout pro career.