Khan was an impressive winner over Barrera in his last bout

Promoter Frank Warren insists Amir Khan's delayed WBA light-welterweight title fight against Andreas Kotelnik will be worth the wait.

His Ukrainian opponent forced it back until 18 July at Manchester's MEN Arena because of a tooth infection, which angered Khan's trainer Freddie Roach.

Warren told BBC London 94.9: "This is the toughest fight he's (Khan) had in his career bar none.

"This guy's a quality fighter. He's never been on the floor."

Warren added: "He's a different type of fighter, he's not a [Marco Antonio] Barrera, this is going to be a very different fight. He's never been on the floor, as an amateur or pro.

"He's got a good chin, he's a very very good boxer. Amir's got to be at his best for this, he's not some old worn-out fighter."

606: DEBATE Have your say on Amir Khan

Meanwhile, Warren says he can sympathise with Roach, after the original date was moved from 27 June at London's O2 Arena, although the switch in venue to Manchester is likely to favour Khan, who is from nearby Bolton.

But Warren has dismissed any suggestion that Kotelnik has backed out because of a lack of preparation.

"The guy has had a problem with his tooth, there's been no other reason to cancel it," he said.

"It's turned out very, very expensive moving from one venue to the other.

"Anyone gets annoyed with it, I got annoyed when it first happened and Freddie's annoyed because they've got other things planned.

"Fighters train to get themselves into peak condition, and they've had to take their foot off the gas now and get themselves 're-peaked'."

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