New York– Due to ongoing negotiations for a heavyweight title fight, Gotham Boxing has announced that Shannon Briggs will not compete on the July 26th card at the Manhattan Center.

Instead, promoter Cedric Kushner has signed up a pair of title fights. In the first championship fight, Cuban star Eliseo Castillo (20-1-1, 15 KO’s) steps into the ring against Emanuel Steward’s unbeaten prospect Johnathon Banks (11-0, 8KO’s) of Detroit, Michigan in a bout for the NABO Cruiserweight Championship. In addition to the Castillo-Banks bout, amateur standout “Mean” Joe Greene (10-0, 7KO’s) of Brooklyn, NY will fight for the vacant WBC Youth Middleweight championship.

Gotham Boxing’ ten bout card at the Grand Ballroom at Manhattan Center will also feature heavyweight contender David Tua (44-3-1, 38KO’s), making his first New York appearance in close to ten years. The hard punching Tua will battle Oak Lawn, Illinois’ Edward Gutierrez (15-2, 6KO’s).

Kushner is also pleased to announce that he has consummated a deal with ESPN 2’s “Wednesday Night Fights” which will televise the show live.

“The exciting thing about ESPN is that it provides terrific exposure, both for the championship bouts and Tua’s return to New York,” said Kushner.

The exciting show, will also feature local favorites, unbeaten Brooklyn rising star, Cindy Serrano; Bronx native and star amateur, Jorge Teron; and heavy-handed Middleweight looking to extend his unbeaten streak, Peter “Kid Chocoloate” Quillin.

Tickets for Cedric Kushner’s Gotham Boxing card at the Grand Ballroom at Manhattan Center are available at ticketmaster, www.ticketmaster.com and through Gotham Boxing at 212.755.1944.