Gachau Njoroge hospitalised after sixth-round TKO loss to Phil Castro at Vurugu 2

Fitness influencer Gachau Njoroge was rushed to hospital after suffering a sixth-round technical knockout defeat to Phil Castro during their highly anticipated heavyweight exhibition bout at the Vurugu 2 boxing event in Nairobi.

Medical personnel quickly attended to Gachau immediately after the referee stopped the contest before he was taken to hospital for further treatment following the punishing encounter.

Phil was subsequently declared the winner and crowned Vurugu 2 heavyweight champion.

The fight was the culmination of a rivalry that had been brewing for months between two of Kenya's most recognisable fitness influencers.

Gachau and Phil first crossed paths in the bodybuilding and fitness content space, where both built sizeable online followings through workout videos, fitness coaching and lifestyle content.

Their relationship later deteriorated, with public disagreements and social media exchanges escalating into a full-blown feud.

The moment Gachau passed out after a lethal TKO by Phil, rushed to hospital on a stretcher || VURUGU 2 pic.twitter.com/bkaNFDg1vK

— Lightcast TV Kenya (@Lightcasttvke) June 21, 2026

Fans closely followed the back-and-forth, with each man questioning the other's strength, fitness credentials and ability to perform under pressure.

The rivalry eventually caught the attention of Vurugu organisers, who saw an opportunity to turn the bad blood into one of the event's headline attractions.

In the weeks leading up to the fight, both men engaged in intense trash talk during interviews, press conferences and online appearances.

Phil repeatedly predicted he would stop Gachau before the final bell, while Gachau insisted he had the physical and mental toughness to emerge victorious.

When fight night arrived, the pair wasted little time living up to the hype.

The opening rounds featured aggressive exchanges, with both fighters looking to impose themselves physically.

Gachau showed determination and resilience, absorbing punishment while attempting to mount attacks of his own.

As the fight wore on, however, Phil's superior conditioning and power began to make a difference.

He gradually gained control of the bout, landing cleaner punches and dictating the pace. Gachau continued to fight back but struggled to slow his opponent's momentum.

The decisive moment came in the sixth round when Phil unleashed a sustained attack that left Gachau unable to defend himself effectively. The referee stepped in to stop the contest, awarding Phil a technical knockout victory and ending one of the most talked-about fights of the night.

The bout was one of the headline attractions at Vurugu 2, an event organised by comedian and media personality Oga Obinna. 

While Phil celebrated a career-defining victory and the championship belt, concern remained over Gachau's condition as he received medical attention following the gruelling six-round battle.