NAIROBI, Kenya — Fitness influencer and bodybuilder-turned-boxer Gachau Njoroge has been discharged from hospital after being rushed for emergency treatment following a punishing heavyweight bout at Vurugu 2 held at Nairobi’s Sarit Centre on Saturday night.
Gachau was taken for medical attention shortly after suffering a sixth-round technical knockout (TKO) defeat to his rival Phil Castro, in a headline exhibition fight that drew major attention at the entertainment-meets-boxing event organised by media personality Oga Obinna.
The referee halted the contest in the sixth round to prevent further punishment, bringing an end to a physically demanding bout that had steadily tilted in Castro’s favour.
Speaking shortly after his discharge in a conversation with friend Nico Mutisya, Gachau confirmed that despite the frightening scenes ringside, medical examinations returned largely positive results.
“Everything is okay,” he said. “The CT scan is clear. I had an ultrasound on my stomach because I have a history of hernia surgery, and that is fine too.”
Doctors, however, identified a minor concern during scans, revealing a small fluid accumulation on one side of his body. Medical staff reportedly assured him that the condition was not serious.
Gachau also acknowledged experiencing a mild concussion, describing it as a typical aftermath of a high-intensity fight.
“This side of the liver is where they’ve seen some fluid but the scan has confirmed it is not something serious. X-ray has also confirmed that the lungs are okay. So I’m okay, though I am feeling a slight concussion but it’s not something serious,” he added.
The bout was the culmination of a heated and prolonged rivalry between two prominent figures in Kenya’s fitness and bodybuilding community.
What began as light online banter gradually escalated into a fully public feud, with both Gachau and Phil Castro trading challenges, comparisons of strength, and accusations over conditioning and legitimacy as athletes.
By fight night, the tension had turned the exhibition bout into one of the most anticipated matchups on the Vurugu 2 card.
Inside the ring, Gachau showed early resilience, absorbing heavy pressure and engaging in sustained exchanges across the opening rounds. However, as the fight progressed, Phil Castro’s superior power, conditioning, and composure began to dominate the contest.
By the sixth round, Castro had established clear control, prompting the referee to step in and stop the fight, awarding him a technical knockout victory and the Vurugu 2 heavyweight exhibition crown.
The stoppage was widely seen as a protective decision, with officials prioritising fighter safety after Gachau absorbed repeated heavy shots.
Despite the loss, Gachau maintained a respectful tone toward his opponent while still preserving the competitive rivalry that defined their build-up.
“Phil, congratulations, you are the better man tonight,” he said, before adding in characteristic banter: “But remember, you are still a cabbage head.”
The remark reflected the personality-driven nature of the rivalry, which has played a key role in amplifying interest in the matchup across social media platforms.
Even after the hospital visit and knockout defeat, Gachau has signalled that he does not intend to step away from the spotlight.
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He confirmed plans to return to training and shift focus back to bodybuilding, with a competition scheduled for October 10 already on his calendar.
In a further extension of his rivalry with Phil Castro, Gachau also invited his opponent to join him in the bodybuilding arena, challenging him to prove whether he could “survive” outside boxing and into physique competition.
Gachau Njoroge’s exit from Vurugu 2 marks one of the most dramatic moments of the event’s heavyweight showcase, a bout that blended athletic ambition, entertainment rivalry, and the physical realities of combat sports.
While medical reports have eased immediate concerns, the fight has reignited discussion about the risks involved in celebrity boxing and the thin line between entertainment spectacle and genuine sporting competition.
