================================================================================

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D
                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                               (AMENDMENT NO. 20)*

                     BALLY TOTAL FITNESS HOLDING CORPORATION
                                (Name of Issuer)

                     COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    05873K108
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                 MR. JOSEPH R. THORNTON, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
                         PARDUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT L.P.
                           1001 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
                                   SUITE 1100
                               NEW YORK, NY 10018
                                 (212) 719-7550

                     (Name, Address and Telephone Number of
                      Person Authorized to Receive Notices
                               and Communications)

                                 with a copy to

                             JEFFREY D. MARELL, ESQ.
                              CARL L. REISNER, ESQ.
                  PAUL, WEISS, RIFKIND, WHARTON & GARRISON LLP
                           1285 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
                          NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019-6064

                                 JULY 27, 2006
                     (Date of Event which Requires Filing of
                                 this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition which is the subject to this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box
[_].

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Section 240.13d-7 for other
parties to whom copies are to be sent.

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes.)



CUSIP NO.  05873K108                                              PAGE  2 OF 10

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1        NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

         Pardus European Special Opportunities Master Fund L.P.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2        CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

         (a)  [_]  Not
         (b)  [X]  Applicable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3        SEC USE ONLY


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4        SOURCE OF FUNDS

         WC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5        CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
         ITEMS 2(D) OR 2(E)

              [_]  Not Applicable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6        CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OR ORGANIZATION

         United States
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              7     SOLE VOTING POWER
                                                    6,105,500*
                 NUMBER OF                   -----------------------------------
                   SHARES                     8     SHARED VOTING POWER
                BENEFICIALLY                        -0-
                  OWNED BY                   -----------------------------------
                    EACH                      9     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                 REPORTING                          6,105,500*
                   PERSON                    -----------------------------------
                    WITH                      10    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                    -0-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11       AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         6,105,500*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12       CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

              [_]  Not Applicable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13       PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

         14.8%*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14       TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

         PN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------
* Pardus European Special Opportunities Master Fund L.P., a limited partnership
formed under the laws of the Cayman  Islands (the  "Fund"),  is the  beneficial
owner of 6,105,500  shares of the common stock,  par value $0.01 per share (the
"Shares"),  of Bally Total Fitness Holding Corporation,  a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"). Pardus Capital Management L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
("PCM"),  serves as the investment manager of the Fund and possesses sole power
to vote and  direct the  disposition  of all  Shares  held by the Fund.  Pardus
Capital  Management LLC, a Delaware limited  liability  company ("PCM LLC"), as
the general partner of PCM, and Mr. Karim Samii, as the sole member of PCM LLC,
may be  deemed to be the  beneficial  owners  of all  Shares  held by the Fund;
however, PCM LLC and Mr. Samii disclaim beneficial ownership of all Shares held
by the Fund. Based on information  provided by the Company,  as of May 31, 2006
there  were  41,310,827  shares  of  the  Company's  common  stock  issued  and
outstanding. Thus, for the purposes of Reg. Section 240.13d-3, the Fund and PCM
are deemed to  beneficially  own, and PCM LLC and Mr. Karim Samii may be deemed
to beneficially own, 6,105,500 Shares, or approximately 14.8% of the issued and
outstanding Shares.





CUSIP NO.  05873K108                                              PAGE  3 OF 10

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1        NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

         Pardus Capital Management L.P.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2        CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

         (a)  [_]  Not
         (b)  [X]  Applicable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3        SEC USE ONLY


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4        SOURCE OF FUNDS

         WC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5        CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
         ITEMS 2(D) OR 2(E)

              [_]  Not Applicable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6        CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OR ORGANIZATION

         United States
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              7     SOLE VOTING POWER
                                                    6,105,500*
                 NUMBER OF                   -----------------------------------
                   SHARES                     8     SHARED VOTING POWER
                BENEFICIALLY                        -0-
                  OWNED BY                   -----------------------------------
                    EACH                      9     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                 REPORTING                          6,105,500*
                   PERSON                    -----------------------------------
                    WITH                      10    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                    -0-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11       AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         6,105,500*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12       CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

              [_]  Not Applicable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13       PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

         14.8%*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14       TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

         IA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------
* The Fund is the  beneficial  owner of 6,105,500  Shares of the  Company.  PCM
serves as the  investment  manager of the Fund and possesses sole power to vote
and direct the  disposition  of all Shares  held by the Fund.  PCM LLC,  as the
general  partner of PCM, and Mr. Karim Samii, as the sole member of PCM LLC may
be deemed to be the beneficial owners of all Shares held by the Fund;  however,
PCM LLC, and Mr. Samii disclaim beneficial  ownership of all Shares held by the
Fund.  Based on information  provided by the Company,  as of May 31, 2006 there
were 41,310,827  shares of the Company's  common stock issued and  outstanding.
Thus, for the purposes of Reg. Section  240.13d-3,  the Fund and PCM are deemed
to  beneficially  own,  and PCM  LLC  and Mr.  Karim  Samii  may be  deemed  to
beneficially own,  6,105,500  Shares, or approximately  14.8% of the issued and
outstanding Shares.



CUSIP NO.  05873K108                                              PAGE  4 OF 10

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1        NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

         Pardus Capital Management LLC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2        CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

         (a)  [_]  Not
         (b)  [X]  Applicable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3        SEC USE ONLY


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4        SOURCE OF FUNDS

         WC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5        CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
         ITEMS 2(D) OR 2(E)

              [_]  Not Applicable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6        CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OR ORGANIZATION

         United States
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              7     SOLE VOTING POWER
                                                    6,105,500*
                 NUMBER OF                   -----------------------------------
                   SHARES                     8     SHARED VOTING POWER
                BENEFICIALLY                        -0-
                  OWNED BY                   -----------------------------------
                    EACH                      9     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                 REPORTING                          6,105,500*
                   PERSON                    -----------------------------------
                    WITH                      10    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                    -0-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11       AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         6,105,500*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12       CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

              [_]  Not Applicable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13       PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

         14.8%*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14       TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

         OO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------
* The Fund is the  beneficial  owner of 6,105,500  Shares of the  Company.  PCM
serves as the  investment  manager of the Fund and possesses sole power to vote
and direct the  disposition  of all Shares  held by the Fund.  PCM LLC,  as the
general partner of PCM, and Mr. Karim Samii, as the sole member of PCM LLC, may
be deemed to be the beneficial owners of all Shares held by the Fund;  however,
PCM LLC and Mr. Samii disclaim  beneficial  ownership of all Shares held by the
Fund.  Based on information  provided by the Company,  as of May 31, 2006 there
were 41,310,827  shares of the Company's  common stock issued and  outstanding.
Thus, for the purposes of Reg. Section  240.13d-3,  the Fund and PCM are deemed
to  beneficially  own,  and PCM  LLC  and Mr.  Karim  Samii  may be  deemed  to
beneficially own,  6,105,500  Shares, or approximately  14.8% of the issued and
outstanding Shares.



CUSIP NO.  05873K108                                              PAGE  5 OF 10

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1        NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

         Mr. Karim Samii
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2        CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

         (a)  [_]  Not
         (b)  [X]  Applicable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3        SEC USE ONLY


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4        SOURCE OF FUNDS

         WC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5        CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
         ITEMS 2(D) OR 2(E)

              [_]  Not Applicable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6        CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OR ORGANIZATION

         United States
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              7     SOLE VOTING POWER
                                                    6,105,500*
                 NUMBER OF                   -----------------------------------
                   SHARES                     8     SHARED VOTING POWER
                BENEFICIALLY                        -0-
                  OWNED BY                   -----------------------------------
                    EACH                      9     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                 REPORTING                          6,105,500*
                   PERSON                    -----------------------------------
                    WITH                      10    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                    -0-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11       AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         6,105,500*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12       CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

              [_]  Not Applicable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13       PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

         14.8%*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14       TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

         IN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------
* The Fund is the  beneficial  owner of 6,105,500  Shares of the  Company.  PCM
serves as the  investment  manager of the Fund and possesses sole power to vote
and direct the  disposition  of all Shares  held by the Fund.  PCM LLC,  as the
general partner of PCM, and Mr. Karim Samii, as the sole member of PCM LLC, may
be deemed to be the beneficial owners of all Shares held by the Fund;  however,
PCM LLC and Mr. Samii disclaim  beneficial  ownership of all Shares held by the
Fund.  Based on information  provided by the Company,  as of May 31, 2006 there
were 41,310,827  shares of the Company's  common stock issued and  outstanding.
Thus, for the purposes of Reg. Section  240.13d-3,  the Fund and PCM are deemed
to  beneficially  own,  and PCM  LLC  and Mr.  Karim  Samii  may be  deemed  to
beneficially own,  6,105,500  Shares, or approximately  14.8% of the issued and
outstanding Shares.



CUSIP NO.  05873K108                                              PAGE  6 OF 10


         Pursuant to Rule 13d-2(a) of the General Rules and  Regulations  under
the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"),  the  undersigned
hereby amends the Schedule 13D  Statement  originally  filed by Pardus  Capital
Management L.P., a Delaware  limited  partnership  ("PCM"),  dated September 6,
2005, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated September 6, 2005,  Amendment No. 2,
dated September 6, 2005,  Amendment No. 3, dated  September 8, 2005,  Amendment
No. 4, dated  September 15, 2005,  Amendment  No. 5, dated  September 23, 2005,
Amendment  No. 6, dated  October 6, 2005,  Amendment  No. 7, dated  October 17,
2005,  Amendment  No. 8, dated October 24, 2005,  Amendment No. 9, 2005,  dated
November 17, 2005,  Amendment No. 10, dated December 5, 2005, Amendment No. 11,
dated December 8, 2005, Amendment No.12, dated December 29, 2005, Amendment No.
13, dated January 10, 2006, Amendment No. 14, dated January 12, 2006, Amendment
No. 15, dated  January 17,  2006,  Amendment  No. 16,  dated  January 23, 2006,
Amendment No. 17, dated  January 23, 2006,  Amendment No. 18, dated January 27,
2006,  and  Amendment  No. 19, dated April 20, 2006 (as amended,  the "Schedule
13D"),  relating to the common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Shares"),
of Bally  Total  Fitness  Holding  Corporation,  a  Delaware  corporation  (the
"Company").  This Amendment No. 20 to the Schedule 13D is being filed on behalf
of  Pardus  European  Special   Opportunities   Master  Fund  L.P.,  a  limited
partnership  formed  under the laws of the Cayman  Islands (the  "Fund"),  PCM,
Pardus  Capital  Management  LLC, a Delaware  limited  liability  company ("PCM
LLC"),  and  Mr.  Karim  Samii   (individually,   a  "Reporting  Person",   and
collectively, the "Reporting Persons").

Item 1.  SECURITY AND ISSUER.

         No material change.

Item 2.  IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND.

         No material change.

Item 3.  SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION.

         No material change.

Item 4.  PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION.

         No material change.

Item 5.  INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

         (a) and (b).

The beneficial  ownership and ownership  percentages set forth herein are as of
July 27, 2006. All ownership percentages set forth herein assume that there are
41,310,827 Shares outstanding,  based on the total number of shares reported in
the Form 8-K filed by the Company with the Securities  and Exchange  Commission
on May 31, 2006 to be issued and outstanding as of May 31, 2006.

The responses to Items 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 13 of the inside cover pages of this
Schedule 13D are hereby incorporated by reference in response to this Item 5.

The Fund is the beneficial owner of 6,105,500 Shares of the Company. PCM serves
as the  investment  manager  of the Fund and  possesses  sole power to vote and
direct the  disposition of all Shares held by the Fund. PCM LLC, as the general
partner of PCM,  and Mr.  Karim  Samii,  as the sole member of PCM LLC,  may be
deemed to be the beneficial owners of all Shares held by the Fund; however, PCM
LLC and Mr. Samii disclaim beneficial ownership of all Shares held by the Fund.

         (c) Since the filing of  Amendment 19 to the Schedule 13D on April 20,
2006, the Fund has acquired Shares of the Company as follows:



CUSIP NO.  05873K108                                              PAGE  7 OF 10


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 CAPITAL STOCK        TRADE DATE       BUY/SELL       AMOUNT          PRICE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/05/06          Buy           1,600          $ 6.45
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/05/06          Buy           5,000          $ 6.46
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/05/06          Buy           1,500          $ 6.47
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/05/06          Buy          73,400          $ 6.48
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/05/06          Buy         159,000          $ 6.49
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/05/06          Buy          16,700          $ 6.50
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/05/06          Buy          10,000          $ 6.51
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/05/06          Buy           7,400          $ 6.52
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/05/06          Buy             200          $ 6.53
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/05/06          Buy             200          $ 6.56
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/06/06          Buy             600          $ 6.43
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/06/06          Buy             300          $ 6.44
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/06/06          Buy         100,000          $ 6.45
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/06/06          Buy             100          $ 6.46
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/06/06          Buy           1,400          $ 6.49
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/06/06          Buy           2,300          $ 6.50
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/06/06          Buy           3,400          $ 6.51
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Common Stock           7/06/06          Buy           4,900          $ 6.52
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/06/06          Buy           4,000          $ 6.53
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/06/06          Buy             200          $ 6.55
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/06/06          Buy           1,200          $ 6.56
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/06/06          Buy           3,100          $ 6.57
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock          7/06/06          Buy           1,279          $ 6.58
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock        7/27/2006          Buy             100          $ 5.24
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock        7/27/2006          Buy           5,700          $ 5.25
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock        7/27/2006          Buy          37,600          $ 5.26
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock        7/27/2006          Buy           9,700          $ 5.27
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock        7/27/2006          Buy           1,200          $ 5.28
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock        7/27/2006          Buy           6,200          $ 5.29
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock        7/27/2006          Buy           1,400          $ 5.30
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock        7/27/2006          Buy           3,700          $ 5.31
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock        7/27/2006          Buy          39,900          $ 5.32
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         (d)   Not applicable.

         (e)   Not applicable.

Item 6.  CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT
         TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

         No material change.




CUSIP NO.  05873K108                                              PAGE  8 OF 10


Item 7.  MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.

        Exhibit 27:    Joint Filing Agreement, dated July 27, 2006, among the
                       Reporting Persons.




CUSIP NO.  05873K108                                              PAGE  9 OF 10


                                    SIGNATURE


                  After reasonable inquiry and to the best of its or his
knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set
forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated:  July 27, 2006

                                    PARDUS EUROPEAN SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES
                                    MASTER FUND L.P.

                                      By: Pardus Capital Management L.P.,
                                          its Investment Manager

                                      By: Pardus Capital Management LLC,
                                          its general partner


                                      By: /s/ Karim Samii
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          Name:  Karim Samii
                                          Title: Sole Member



                                    PARDUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT L.P.

                                      By: Pardus Capital Management LLC,
                                          its general partner


                                      By: /s/ Karim Samii
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          Name:  Karim Samii
                                          Title: Sole Member



                                    PARDUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC


                                      By: /s/ Karim Samii
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          Name:  Karim Samii
                                          Title: Sole Member



                                      /s/ Karim Samii
                                      ---------------------------------------
                                      Karim Samii




Attention:  Intentional  misstatements  or omissions of fact constitute  Federal
criminal violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001).