By David Field, PA Sport Boxing Correspondent, Sydney

Courtney Fry could have been forced to tread a more hazardous path towards next week's Olympic final in Sydney.

The light-heavyweight from East London's Repton Club can survey the progress of the Cuban, Russian, Italian and Australian rivals in the bottom half of the draw, while he deals with Nigerian, Moroccan, Ghanaian, Indian, Korean and Syrian opposition in his.

British coach Ian Irwin was more than delighted with the way the balls came out for Fry because life certainly looks tougher on the other side of that 81kg fence.

Yet Fry himself would somehow have preferred the 'devil' he knows, and explained: "I don't really see my side of the draw as being easier. Most of the European boxers I've fought, or if not, I know how they box and what they are like. I don't know what some of the fighters are like in my side of the draw.

"I haven't got a clue how they come out, how strong they are, if they come forward or go backward, what their favourite shots are.

"It's a bit of a puzzle and it's going to be more work for me to figure them out and then take them out. I'll just have to box at the best of my ability."

Fry launches his campaign against Ghana's Charles Adamu on Wednesday, and the pair managed to avoid each other in the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur when the African won the bronze and the Londoner the gold.

Fry added: "I remember seeing the Ghanaian in the Commonwealth Games and I know he's a come-forward boxer. He's probably as strong as an ox.

"I'm just working on my foot movement, being able to get round opponents whether they are southpaw or orthodox.

"I've been boxing for ten years, gradually climbing up - ABAs, European, Commonwealth Games, and now the Olympics, which is the best thing.

"I've sacrificed a lot for boxing and it would be a shame not to go back with a medal.

"When I haven't been given the chance of winning I always seem to shine and rise above the rest. All I can do is do my best and I know for a fact that if I do my best I'll come home smiling."

Importantly Fry, 25, has developed the knack of pulling out his best when it matters, winning the European silver in the Minsk European championships to add to his first place in the Commonwealth Games in a magical 1998.

And to illustrate his competitive nature, Fry once fought at one o'clock in the morning with a 'flu bug on a show in Wales and still won.

Irwin said: "Courtney's got a habit of producing the goods when it matters. He's certainly a competitor.

"The preparation has gone extremely well but there'll be no medal easily won."

Victory for Fry would take him to a second round shoot-out against either the Ukranian Andri Fedtchouk or Aziz Raguig, of Morocco.

Fry is a shy type so it is something of a surprise to see the racy nickname of Courtney '2-Hot-2' Fry on his Olympic biography.

But, if he manages to strike gold, he will certainly arrive home as a much hotter property than when he left.