Having boxed mainly in Argentina and Uruguay for much of his early career, he managed to land a shot at the WBA World Middleweight title after only 14 fights, challenging the then world champion Felix Sturm in Germany. The German proved too classy however and won the fight by a wide points decision, earning Alcoba his first career defeat.
Alcoba continued to box in Uruguay and Argentina, acquiring an impressive knockout ration and capturing the vacant WBO Latino middleweight title in his 19th bout. He disposed of former WBA middleweight title holder Mariano Natalio Carrera in four rounds, also boxing in the United States to stop rated Mexican middleweight Michi Munoz in six before stepping up to super middleweight to win the WBC Silver belt by a 3rd-round stoppage of a former Mexican middleweight champion Gustavo Magallanes. After a first successful defense of the belt in a bout against Mexican Ruben Padilla, he lost the second defense, suffering his 2nd professional defeat in a 2-round stoppage loss to world title contender and knockout artist Adonis "Superman" Stevenson in Montreal, Canada.
Following the Stevenson loss he has recovered in style, earning two 1st-round knockout wins. He lost in his latest fight to then unbeaten British prospect George Groves[1] by 5th round technical knockout on the Froch vs. Kessler bill in May.