SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Coming in favored for the gold, world champion Jimmy Pedro of the United States came away empty-handed after a shocking first-round loss to an unknown South Korean Monday at the Olympics.

 Pedro of Lawrence, Mass., captured the 1999 world title in the 73-kilogram class and was 81-3 in his last four years. He was also the 1996 bronze medalist.

 But he wasn't feeling quite right and was shocked in his first match against South Korea's Choi Yong-sin, who never won a major title and most notable achievement was a third in the world juniors four years ago.

 After losing, Pedro had to battle back through four rounds of repechages -- or second chances -- to earn the right to battle for the bronze against semifinal loser, Anatoly Laryukov of Belarus.

 Laryukov scored a late takedown to beat Pedro and take the bronze.

 The first round match against Choi that put Pedro out of contention for the gold did not go well. No scoring moves were executed and both were penalized for non-combativeness.

 With 48 seconds left, Pedro was penalized for an illegal grip, giving Choi another scoring point. Pedro tried to counter in the final seconds but could not throw Choi.

 Pedro said he didn't feel right from he start. "I don't know why. I just don't feel right," Pedro said after the match.

 "Jimmy couldn't get started," said American coach Steve Cohen. "It just didn't happen. The last time he beat him by a full point."

 Pedro had to win four straight bouts to have a chance to win a bronze. He even had to face 1996 gold medalist Kenzo Nakamura of Japan, like Pedro, another champion who lost before the final losing to Choi.

 Against Nakamura both men were penalized for passivity. But Pedro threw Nakamura with 1:23 left to advance and he went into the final repechage against Michel Almedia of Portugal, which Pedro won.

 However, Pedro lost his chance for the bronze medal.

 Giuseppe Maddaloni of Italy won the men's event over Tiago Camilo of Brazil, exciting the crowd with a front flip after he scored the winning throw.

 Choi, like Pedro, lost a chance for the bronze as Latvia's Vsevolods Zelonijs took the third-place bout.

 In the women's 57 kg event Isabel Fernandez of Spain, won the gold defeating Driulys Gonzalez of Cuba in the title match. Kie Kusakabe, Japan, and Maria Pekli, Australia, shared the bronze.

 Fernandez won the 57 kg class at the 1997 world championships and took the silver last year.

 Judo Results

 SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Results Monday from the judo competition at the Summer Olympics:

 Men

 73kg

 Bronze Medal Matches

 Anatoly Laryukov, Belarus, def. Jimmy Pedro, Lawrence, Mass., Ippon, 00:31.

 Vsevolods Zelonijs, Latvia, def. Choi Yong-Sin, South Korea, Ippon, 00:53.

 Gold Medal Match

 Giuseppe Maddaloni, Italy, def. Tiago Camilo, Brazil, Ippon, 03:25.

 Women

 57kg

 Bronze Medal Matches

 Kie Kusakabe, Japan, def. Shen Jun, China, Ippon, 00:44.

 Maria Pekli, Australia, def. Cinzia Cavazzuti, Italy, Yusei-Gachi.

 Gold Medal Match

 Isabel Fernandez, Spain, def. Driulys Gonzalez, Cuba, Yusei-Gachi.