By David Field, PA Sport Boxing Correspondent

Londoner Courtney Fry tendered his apologies after losing his opening Olympic fight by the width of Sydney's Darling Harbour.

Having boxed well short of his potential, Fry felt it was the most appropriate reaction after Ghana's strong, unorthodox Charles Adamu beat him 16-3, failing to register his first point on the judges' computer until the fourth minute of the contest.

Fry won the gold and Adamu the bronze in the 1998 Commonwealth Games, so the form line pointed strongly to the Repton light-heavyweight.

But he simply never got going, and admitted that his legs "felt heavy".

But the other half of the Great Britain team refused to blame his lack-lustre performance on any mental distractions caused by impending birth of his first child, which is due four days after the Olympics end.

So the British campaign is now left in the large hands of super-heavyweight Audley Harrison, who opens his programme against Russia's Alexeii Lezin on Saturday, and Fry has pledged to expend his remaining energies on supporting the big man in his quest for the gold medal.

"Apologies. I had the easiest part of the draw," said Fry. "I didn't see the scoring that way; from that it looks as if I've got a right licking. Most of his shots I was taking on my gloves. I wasn't worried because I did think they were scoring, but apparently it was a different story.

"It was disappointing, I didn't perform to the best of my ability. I tried to take the fight to him, whereas I should have boxed him, and looked for the openings. To be honest, I don't think he's in my class of fighter. I didn't know anything about him. All I gathered was that he was strong and come-forward. I didn't read the fight as well as I should have done.

"I think he deserved to win it. all credit to him. But on another day he would not even have been good enough to tie my shoelaces. That's life. I'm just going to give Audley my best wishes now. I know he can do the business. If he comes home with a medal that will mean something to me.

"At least I've been to the Olympics, done it - but I didn't do it as well as I should have done. I was here to win, but I lost. I'm not happy with my performance, but I was just happy to have represented my country even though I didn't do it to my best ability."

Did the thoughts of the birth play a part in his below-par showing? "I'm going to say not. I was focused even though it was playing at the back of my mind along with a few other things. I don't think it was the main factor."

Adamu, 23, held his guard high from the opening bell, sampling what Fry had to offer, then went to work. His pace was superior and in the second minute of the first round had four point deposited in the bank. After all the toil of preparation for the ultimate competition, he was facing the prospect of losing after just 120 second of Olympic combat.

It needed something special to stir Fry - and quickly - to get back into contention. But Adamu kept him on the back foot and not best balanced to throw his shots, and before Fry could reply the African had darted 7-0 in front.

Fry pulled it back to 7-2 but Adamu, quicker to the punch, was 10-2 ahead with three rounds gone. It needed something out of a 'Rocky' script to save Courtney.

The knockout or stoppage did not come - but sadly defeat did.