Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Defending Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest champion Joey Chestnut won't return to defend his title on July 4. Some have considered inviting him to a similar challenge here in Western New York.
Organizers of America’s perennial July 4th hot dog eating contest say the reigning champion won’t compete this year due to a contract dispute. Joey “Jaws” Chestnut has been competing since 2005, and hasn’t lost since 2015.
But don't count on Buffalo courting Chestnut anytime soon.
"I'll bet you the odds are 0.001%," says Drew Cerza, who has brought Chestnut to the National Chicken Wing Eating Championship at the National Chicken Wing Festival. "For the National Buffalo Wing festival, he started coming to Buffalo about eight years ago. I compensate him, I compensate Major League Eating separately. He was, he's always been under contract with Major League Eating."
Cerza says he found out Chestnut couldn't come about three weeks ago to this year's Wing Fest.
"There's a lot of logistics when you're talking to these competitive eaters, getting them to Buffalo," Cerza said with WBEN.
He adds Chestnut has already planned an eating event on Labor Day, the day after the festival ends here.
Among the area's hot dog industry leaders, the thought is mixed.
"I think we are known for our food, and this is something that we should definitely be jumping all over," said Joe Redlinski of Redlinski Meats with WBEN.
Redlnski says his dogs would give Chestnut a chomping challenge.
"My hot dogs are a lot bigger. I think said the other guys are usually like 10 to a pound or 11 to a pound. I think ours are six. But they're hand twisted. So some of them are a little bigger," Redlinski explained.
Joe Sahlen of Sahlen's isn't so keen on the idea.
"I have never really liked these eating contests, regardless of what the product is," said Sahlen during an appearance on WBEN. "As far as I'm concerned, it denigrates whatever product that you're eating," adding it's a competitor of his.
Sahlen acknowledges there's certainly some promotional possibilities, but he personally is against the idea.
At last year’s Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, Chestnut downed 62 franks and buns in 10 minutes.