On Saturday, in Albany, two local boxers from ADK Boxing and Fitness made their mark. Aaron Hesseltine, standing third from the left, and Marcus Marti, second from the right, posed with their fellow members. (Provided photo)

Boxing in Lake Placid: A Tale of Two Fighters

In Lake Placid, two area boxers showed their mettle. Aaron Hesseltine, of Saranac Lake, faced off against Clifton Park's Samuel Whiting in the 165 pounds weight class. Despite his opponent being a few inches taller, Hesseltine, who often sparred with taller opponents, was well-prepared. In the first two rounds, he landed several scoring jabs, crosses, and lead hooks, keeping the pressure on. In the second round, he remained on the front foot, driving Whiting to the corner and landing continuous blows to his head. Whiting was given two standing-eight counts due to repeated unanswered blows and was bleeding from the nose and mouth. However, in the third round, Whiting came back stronger and landed more scoring punches. But Hesseltine responded with more jabs and crosses and emerged as the winner of the bout.Marcus Marti, of Lake Placid, fought against Albany's Richard Race in the 203 pounds super heavyweight class. The two fighters were of similar height and weight, and neither had much competition experience. In the first round, Race was the aggressor, landing several scoring blows. But Marti fought back towards the end of the round. In the second round, Marti was more active, staying on the front foot and controlling the fight. After a flurry of punches, he landed a solid jab that caught Race coming in. Race fought back but was eventually put on the ropes again. In the third round, both fighters were fatigued, alternating control of the fight until the end when Marti landed a flurry of punches before the bell.These victories not only showcase the skills of Hesseltine and Marti but also highlight the spirit and determination of ADK Boxing and Fitness. Their hard work and training paid off on this special Saturday.