Rosenberger ready for Mountaineer showdown

February 10, 2018 at 12:07a.m.

Niles native Danny Rosenberger looks to extend his win streak to three when he takes on Pittsburgh’s Justin Steave tonight in a battle of 154 pounders at Mountaineer Casino Ballroom in New Cumberland, W. Va.

The main event of Made Men Promotions’ “Cupid’s Knockout” will feature Joey “The Hitman” Holt (9-0, 7 KOs) of East Liverpool against two-time West Virginia state champion Aaron “Quiet Storm” Quattrochi (10-2, 5 KOs) in an eight-round battle for the vacant West Virginia super middleweight state title.

Rosenberger (2-3-2), who resides in Howland after training a year in St. Petersburg, Fla., is coming off a four-round unanimous decision win over Butler’s Robert Osterrieder at Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead.

The Nov. 4 win was Rosenberger’s second in a row — he beat Diamond Mitchel by majority decision on July 15. HNils’ is professional career began with two draws and three setbacks.

The fight will mark the fourth time in his last five fights that Steave will be fighting at Mountaineer.

“While I have been to Mountaineer to watch fights, this will be my first time actually in the ring and I am excited,” Rosenberger said. “I need to go in and win convincingly because Justin is the hometown favorite.

“It might look like he hits me when he actually doesn’t connect, yet the fans will be cheering so I have to eliminate that,” Rosenberger said. “It has happened to me before in my first two professional fights where I thought I was the clear cut winner, but ended up draws.

“The fact that I will have close to 60 family members and friends in attendance will be nice.”

Steave (7-1. 4 KOs) won his first six fights before stumbling against Roque Zapata, dropping a six-round unanimous decision to the Culpepper, Va., resident last June.

He rebounded with a four-round majority decision win over James Robinson on Nov. 22 at Mountaineer and hopes to use his mixed martial arts background to his advantage against Rosenberger.

“He has a strong right hand and just likes to brawl,” said Rosenberger, whose father, Rusty, went 20-8 with 10 KOs from 1978-92. “He likes to get his opponent on the ropes and then slug it out.

“I’m a boxer and I want to box,” Rosenberger said. “My father gave me a great piece of advice a long time ago when I was first starting out. He told me to hit without being hit and I intend to do just that.”

He plans to make Steave fight his fight.

“I’ll use my speed and footwork and just try to outbox him,” Rosenberger said. “I’ll never say that I will eliminate an opponent early, but I do want to start fast and finish fast.”

Rosenberger trains at the Downtown Boxing Club with Tommy Cordell and Sam Calderon, calling them “pushy” but in a very nice way.

“Tommy has been a great guy and super friend to me. He pushes me when I need to be pushed and is always on top of the situation,” Rosenberger said. “Sammy has also been very helpful and they have me set and ready to go on Saturday night.”

Cordell said he feels that Rosenberger will be at his best.

“Danny has trained really hard and had some excellent sparring sessions,” Cordell said. “He’ll be at his best, but we will have to be since we are fighting on Steave’s home turf. We’ll need to win each round convincingly if we expect to win.”

The card also includes undefeated lightweight, Matt “Sweetchild” Conway (11-0, 4 KOs), who will take on Victor Abreu (9-2, 5 KOs) of the Dominican Republic in an eight-round lightweight slugfest.

Doors will open at 5 p.m. with the first fight hitting the bell being at 7. Tickets may be purchased at www.mademenboxing.com.