01.08.07 – By Mike Indri – Retired Boxers Foundation – Christopher Marrone, a Vero Beach High School varsity wrestler and football player, died last week in a tragic one-car accident. According to a TCPalm.com article, the popular 17-year-old student athlete never made it home following a voluntary football workout.
Florida State Troopers received reports of a partially submerged vehicle in a canal off 66th Ave, south of State Road 60, at 6:43am this past Tuesday (7/24). Indian River County Fire Rescue reports confirmed the single body found being that of Christopher Marrone.
Loved by all his high school classmates and teammates, Christopher, # 66, was the starting nose tackle and a big part of the team’s solid defensive unit.
The 285 lb. state qualified wrestler was also a big inspiration to his older brother Michael, 21, a promising heavyweight boxer.
“My brother was great, the best brother I could imagine,” stated Marrone, 18-0 (13 KO’s), who is pursuing his dream to one day become a world champion.
Managed by the legendary Lou Duva, and under the watchful eye of long time trainer Gus Curren, Marrone spends countless hours at Vero Beach’s “House of Champions” gym.
All of Team Marrone, Duva and Curren, as well as skilled cutman Darren Antola are devastated by the loss of Christopher, a member of their boxing family.
All of the boxing community sends their love and heartfelt sympathies to Chris’s parents Joe and Michelle, sister Venecia Altimus and brother Michael. Christopher Marrone is in all of our prayers.
Mike Indri
RBFNJMIKE@aol.com