A new men's champion will relish victory after being crowned in the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Newcomer 23-year old Matt Stonie upset eight-time winner Joey Chestnut. Stonie grabbed the famed mustard-coloured champion's belt after downing 62 hot dogs and buns within 10 minutes. Chestnut couldn't catch up. He ate 60 hot dogs and buns.

After the big win, Stonie said, "I was nervous coming in because Joey has the world record still of 69 hot dogs in 10 minutes and I didn't know what he was going to bring to the contest today. But after a few minutes, I was watching him the whole time, I got confident."

"This is surreal. This is crazy," he added.

After the contest, eight-time winner and world record holder Joey Chestnut said, "I just didn't hit my rhythm and he was fast and my numbers were just low. I'm a little bummed out that I didn't come through for the crowd and everybody."

Both Stonie and Chestnut said they will return to the famed Coney Island competition next year.

"I look for motivation to come back. There is nothing like motivation to come back like losing and I have more motivation than ever," said Chestnut.

After the eating competition, a few dozen blood-spattered animal rights activists shouted and held up signs that read "It's not food. It's violence" and "Animals are not ours". The protesters were booed by the large crowd.

Also, extra police officers and counter-terrorism personnel were present at the event on the lookout for potential security threats.

The women's competition also proved exciting as Major League Eating's number one ranked female eater Miki Sudo gobbled up 38 hot dogs and buns to win for the second time.

Sudo beat Sonya Thomas who holds the women's world record for eating 45 hot dogs and buns.

Over the past few decades the competition has outsized itself. In 1988, the winner Jay Green won by eating a paltry 13 hot dogs.