Shannon Briggs Drops Gotham Boxing

NEW YORK (July 13, 2006) – Shannon Briggs, who is slated to fight Wladimir Klitschko for the IBF heavyweight crown at the Garden, will not compete on the July 26 Gotham Boxing fight card at the Manhattan Center.

In his place, promoter Cedric Kushner has signed Cuban star Eliseo Castillo (20-1-1, 15 KOs), who will step into the ring against Emanuel Steward’s unbeaten prospect Johnathon Banks (11-0, 8 KOs) for the NABO cruiserweight title. In addition to the Castillo-Banks bout, amateur standout “Mean” Joe Greene (10-0, 7 KOs), fighting out of Starret City, will fight for the vacant WBC Youth middleweight championship.

Gotham Boxing’s ten-bout card at the Grand Ballroom at Manhattan Center will also feature former heavyweight contender David Tua (44-3-1, 38 KOs), making his first New York appearance in a decade. The hard-punching Tua will meet Edward Gutierrez (15-2, 6 KOs).

Kushner has closed a deal with ESPN2’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.

Also on the show will be several will be several local favorites: unbeaten Brooklyn rising star, Cindy Serrano; Bronx native and star amateur, Jorge Teron; and unbeaten middleweight Peter “Kid Chocoloate” Quillin.

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