Jarvis Takes Hooters Chick Wing Match

Cookie Jarvis fought off the greatest challenge of his eating career at Hooters in Manhattan today, beating rookie Sonya Thomas by consuming 134 chicken wings in 12 minutes. In the process Jarvis secured $1,000 and an uncontested number one ranking in the United States.

Thomas, the surging 100-pound eating sensation, who is ranked No. 2 in America, faced off against 409-pound No. 1-ranked Cookie Jarvis in the first-ever IFOCE title match to determine the nation.s best eater.

Jarvis won the event by just four chicken wings, consuming 134 wings, or 67 ounces of meat, in 12 minutes. Thomas ate 130 wings, or 65 ounces of meat. This sets up an incredible battle at next weeks' WIP Wing Bowl XII, where Jarvis and Thomas will eat against veteran champion El Wingador.

Wing Bowl XII, to be held in the Wachovia Center, is expected to draw approximately 20,000 fans. Many believe Jarvis will enter as odds-on favorite, but the Philadelphia event is a 30 minute marathon -- a very different animal than a 12-minute bout.

The IFOCE . which counts thousands of eaters in its league and maintains official rankings worldwide . held the Hooters title match to settle a too-close-to-call rankings battle between arch-rivals Thomas and Jarvis.

.This title match was the only way to be sure the number one ranked eater in America is the number one ranked eater in America,. said Richard Shea, president of the IFOCE. .We have seen first hand the problematic rankings of the B.C.S. and feel it an injustice that the athletes and fans pay when rankings are inaccurate..

The Hooters chicken wing-eating contest, considered the most hotly contested battle of the sexes since Billie Jean King took on Bobby Riggs in tennis, determined the top eating athlete in the nation.

The black-tie title bout was a 12-minute all-you-can-eat contest. Thomas, from Alexandria, VA, holds world champion titles in hardboiled eggs, pulled pork on a bun, tacos and Turducken. Jarvis, who resides in Long Island, holds titles in Chinese and Russian dumplings, barbecued pork on the rib, chicken fried steak and pasta.