It's 'Jaws' vs 'Tsunami' in US-Japan hot-dog eating showdown

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

NEW YORK (AFP) — American Joey "Jaws" Chestnut will defend his crown as the world's fastest hot-dog eater on Friday against former champion Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi of Japan in an Independence Day showdown at Coney Island.

Kobayashi, 30, holds the world record for eating 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes.

However, this year organizers have brought the time of the contest down to 10 minutes, the same as the first event held in 1916.

The hot-dog eating contest is held each year on the Fourth of July -- US independence day -- at Coney Island, in Brooklyn, one of New York city's five boroughs.

Contestants must eat the largest number of hot dogs, buns included, in the allotted time frame without vomiting. They must wash the dogs down with water, and the bread...