By Ruslan Chikov
Olympic gold medal winner Rakhim Chakhkiev (16-0, 12KOs) is looking for a title shot in 2013. He recently had minor elbow surgery to remove a few bone fragments that were causing him pain.
He wants to land a shot at the WBC cruiserweight king Krzysztof Wlodarczyk of Poland. Wlodarczyk is reportedly facing former champion Jean-Marc Mormeck in the first quarter of the new year.
Chakhkiev was training with American coach Tommy Brooks but now says that his promoter, Universum, hired a new trainer. He never revealed the trainer's name but says the coach worked with Cuban gold medal winners Yuriorkis Gamboa and Odlanier Solis.
"Brooks is no longer in my camp. This coach did not suit us. [Universum] already signed a strong Cuban professional who worked with Yuriorkis Gamboa and Odlanier Solis. Generally, it is extremely difficult to find the right coach," he said.
