But the result does not even begin to tell the full story, with the increasingly 'chinny' Welshman surviving a heavy knockdown in the opening round, when he was surely saved by the bell being rung 47 seconds early.

After a shorter than normal break Maccarinelli still looked to be standing on legs of jelly, only to make it through the round against the crude and disorganised McPhilbin.

The former WBO champ was floored again in the third by a left, right combination but once again the champion failed to find the telling blow.

McPhilbin even touched down twice later in the round - although the referee did not rule a knockdown on either occasion - but thereafter Maccarinelli's experience took over.

In an increasingly untidy fight, the 31-year-old was able to impress with the cleaner shots, winning almost every round on the way to scores of 116-111, 115-110 and 115-111.

However, McPhilbin will surely be granted a re-match following the timekeeper's first round indiscretion, when it looked like Maccarinelli was about to crash to a fifth heavy stoppage loss in as many years.