Former welterweight champion Kell Brook wants to get himself in the conversation of contending for a world title in the super welterweight division. After a hiatus of 14 months, he made a statement today to enter his name as one of those contenders.

It took seven rounds for Brook to score a technical knockout over Mark DeLuca to win a minor title and improve his record to 39-2 and register his 27th knockout victory of his career. DeLuca fell to 24-2 after this loss.

The “Special One” showed that he was levels ahead of his opponent by controlling the fight from start to finish, including scoring a knockdown in the third round after a series of hooks putting DeLuca to his knees. He was able to survive that round but did not do much to put Brook in danger. Brook had DeLuca in trouble at the end of the fourth round with power shots but the bell kept the Massachusetts native alive to get through that round. It was more of the same in the next two rounds until Brook finished it in the seventh.

Brook pointed out his consistency throughout the bout as he talked about the victory. “I had to chip away at him and it was a clinical finish,” Brook said. “You are always questioning yourself, but I believe in what I’ve been doing in the gym. I’m in a new kid, a different person.”

He wants to fight for a world title this year, as he feels that his time is limited as a contender. “This is last chance in my career,” Brook said. “2020 is the year I become champion again.”

While Brook is looking ahead to a possible world title shot, there are a couple of fights that spark his interest. A rematch with unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. is on his wish list, but it is unlikely that Brook can get down to 147 pounds. What is possible is a title eliminator bout at 154 against Liam Smith, who was in attendance to watch Brook defeat DeLuca. The idea of that fight did spark up the interest from the former IBF welterweight champion.

“Liam, of course, it does interest me,” Brook said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Liam, I’ve sparred him, and if that’s anything to go on the fight will be amazing.”