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    Joey Chestnut gears up to battle hot-dog-eating Fort Bliss soldiers on July 4 after Coney Island ouster

    By Olivia Land,

    19 days ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3khXlx_0uCL2rn200

    Reigning Coney Island hot dog-eating champion Joey “Jaws” Chestnut is spending this year’s July 4th at Fort Bliss in Texas, where he will compete against four soldiers at the “Pop Goes the Fort” celebration .

    Chestnut — who has won Nathan’s showdown on Coney Island every year since 2016 — was barred from the century-old tradition when the event organizers, Major League Eating, told him he could fuggedabout showing up while also repping the vegan meat brand Impossible Foods, The Post first reported last month.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3bFvRH_0uCL2rn200
    Joey Chestnut will not be at the Coney Island hot dog eating contest this year. AP

    “He’s the Michael Jordan of competitive eating. But imagine if Michael Jordan said to Nike, ‘I love being the face of Nike but I want to do commercials for Adidas, too,” a source explained of the business beef.

    Joey Chestnut devours 57 hot dogs, helps raise $106K for military families in exhibition contest

    After weeks of back-and-forth, Chestnut said he was “gutted” not to be at the Coney Island fest , where he has competed for almost two decades.

    The new setting will bring new challenges: Not only is the five-minute Fort Bliss competition half the length of Nathan’s 10-minute contest but Chestnut’s frank total will be compared to all four servicemen’s combined result.

    “If they (each) break 10, that’d be pretty good,” Chestnut said of the amateurs’ chance of showing him up.

    Patrick Bertoletti crowned new winner of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest after Joey Chestnut was barred

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1jhE7W_0uCL2rn200
    The reigning champ has won the Nathan’s competition every year since 2016. Getty Images

    In the days before the event, the world champion adhered to his pre-competition fast of water, lemon juice and liquid calories.

    He set up for a practice round on Friday — then planned to ingest oils to make sure “there’s a clean highway” in his digestive system come the Fourth.

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    After his appearance in the Lone Star State, fans will catch Chestnut sparring against rival Takeru Koyahaishi on Netflix in September.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0lfKhM_0uCL2rn200
    Chestnut is bringing his competitive edge to Fort Bliss for this Fourth of July. WireImage

    But the Coney Island organizers will have to swallow their pride if they ever want their headlining champion back at their table, Chestnut explained.

    “I feel bullied,” he said of the Nathan’s fallout.

    “If I’m ever going to work with them again, they’re going to have to apologize.”

    With Post wires

    For the latest metro stories, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/metro/

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