George Forman did it at 44, Martina Navratilova at 43, and 41-year-old Dara Torres made Olympic history as the oldest swimming medalist after twice retiring. And now, there’s Brett Favre. Light heavyweight David Telesco, the 41-year-old Rye resident, is equally as inspiring in his quest for a comeback. But before the Port Chester native steps into the ring at the next Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing event on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at the Rye Town Hilton, he will be concentrating on fitness training at the Club @ 1133 Sports & Fitness on Westchester Avenue.

Telesco, who is returning to competition after a nearly five-year hiatus, proved his abilities with a second-round KO against William Gill at the Rye Town Hilton in July in the first in a series of events organized by Star Boxing.

“David’s had some great moments in his boxing career. He has always been a dangerous puncher and was a top light heavyweight some years ago,” stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO of Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing. Telesco’s career highlights include defeating Will Taylor by TKO to earn the USBA Light Heavyweight Title in Oct. 1999. He also went the distance with World Champion Roy Jones Jr. in a bout for the WBC, WBA, IBF Light Heavyweight Titles in January 2000.

Telesco, a father of five, is working on fitness at the Club @ 1133 Sports & Fitness, which opened last fall. Charles DeFrancesco, whose team of trainers from Fit and Functional service the club, has designed a personal program for Telesco to aid him in reaching his goals. Like other professional athletes, Telesco works with several experts. These include Fit and Functional’s Justin Petraglia for Olympic weight training, Marco Franciamore for endurance and conditioning, and Rachel Lerner for nutrition. Dr. Robert Inesta, a certified chiropractic sports practitioner and a certified strength and conditioning specialist of Westchester Sports and Wellness, assists with preventive treatments.

Fit and Functional specializes in functional assessments, flexibility, and treatment of sports injuries and has worked with many athletes, including international squash pro Bernardo Samper and former Chicago White Sox player Darren Ciraco. DeFrancesco, company founder, is certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and the National Federation of Professional Trainers Master Trainer (NFPT). His focus on active rehabilitation and conditioning, essential in the prevention of injuries and performance enhancement, is well suited to the needs of Telesco. “With mature athletes like Telesco, it’s often about changing what had been their routine to a more targeted approach, selecting the best exercises that will carry over to the ring,” noted DeFrancesco. “We are excited about working with our first pro boxer and we are committed to helping him achieve success.”