In October 2010 he competed in the Prizefighter tournament, losing to Michael Sprott in the heavyweight semi-final.
He beat Rhys Davies in June 2011 to take the vacant Midlands-area heavyweight title and in January 2012 challenged Leon Williams for his British cruiserweight title; McPhilbin won with a 12th round stoppage to become British champion.
Maccarinelli was ordered to give McPhilbin an immediate rematch due to timekeeping errors, with round 1 ended 47 seconds early after Maccarinelli had been knocked down, but vacated the title after a doping violation and McPhilbin fought for it again in October against Jon-Lewis Dickinson, losing to a unanimous points verdict.
[1][2][3][4] In January 2013, McPhilbin fought Chris Keane for the vacant Midlands-area cruiserweight title, losing in the third round after being knocked down three times.
Three defeats (including a loss to Hughie Fury) and a draw followed before he challenged for the vacant Midlands-area heavyweight title, this time against Paul Butlin, losing after being disqualified in the fourth round for hitting on the break.