<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>In one of the most exciting finishes in hot dog eating competition history, defending champion Joey Chestnut today defeated six-time winner Takeru Kobayashi in overtime to keep the Mustard Belt, $20,000 and the world's fastest hot dog eater title. Both eaters downed 59 hot dogs in the regular 10-minute competition at Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hotdog-Eating Contest in Coney Island, forcing a speed-eating, five-dog overtime. There Chestnut, known to some as the "Clay Aiken of Bacon," proved to be the speedier of the two. "It was a little bit messier than I wanted it to be," Chestnut said immediately after the competition. "But I got them in me. I got them down. "He wanted it, but I needed it," he said. Kobayashi, who lost last year's competition to Chestnut, said it was speed that did him in. "There wasn't really that big of a difference," the Japanese eating machine said through a translator. "I think I lost because I wasn't quick enough in the rematch." Though the competition featured several so-called gurgitators, most dressed in eccentric costumes, Chestnut and Kobayashi proved after only a few minutes that the real competition was their head-to-head battle.</div> Source: ABC News
I think if Kobayashi can win next year, he'll certainly have the better career. He's been edged out barely, and he's had the larger career.
I want Kobayashi to win, just cause he is a relatively small guy, outeating larger opponents. However I think Chestnut has an edge on him, Chestnut is 24 and can improve and is 6`2 and 220- 230 pounds. while Kobayashi`s weight is around 165 although somewhere said he has dropped to 128 pounds at times and gone as high as 191 pounds.
I don't think Chestnut has much of an edge, it is a complete toss up to me. Kobayashi also has that abnormal stomach of his (which sits lower in his body IIRC), the great equalizer I suppose.
