Rose dominated behind his pinpoint jab throughout the 12 rounds to earn a unanimous verdict from the judges by margins of 119-110 twice and 119-111.

Maxwell knocked out Rose in their previous meeting back in May 2010 and he tried to script a repeat, coming forward in an effort to unload uppercuts.

Aside from shutting Rose on the ropes a few times, Maxwell's approach brought limited success but he kept going right to the end, testament to his fitness.

"(Trainer) Bobby (Rimmer) wanted me to move a little bit more, I think his heart was in his mouth at times," Rose, who claimed the title with a split decision over Prince Arron in his previous fight, told Sky Sports.

"He kept telling me to move, but I think I was being a little bit macho.

"It was hard not to after what he did to me last time. I wanted to prove to him that I can stand there. I shouldn't have but I came through and will learn from it."

No Arron rematch

Looking ahead, Rose played down the prospect of rematch with Arron.

"I heard he's moved up to middleweight. It's not a fight I'm looking at, I know he gave me a chance but I've got to fight the next in line and that's up to (promoter) Frank Maloney," he added.

"There is a Sam Webb-Matthew Hall eliminator. I'm not going to start shouting out opponents, that's not how I got where I am today."

Maloney confirmed plans for Rose to be back in action "before the summer".