NEW YORK -- Takeru Kobayashi has defended his title in the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July world hot-dog eating contest, but not without some controversy.

	Takeru Kobayashi, center, battles Oleg Zhornitsky, left, and Eric Booker, for the title at the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest.

The slightly built Kobayashi, who set a world record with 50 hot dogs eaten in 12 minutes a year ago, did himself a half-dog better this year with 50½ to win easily.

However, after the clock ran out, Kobayashi seemed to have difficulty keeping his lunch down, and at one moment put his shirt to his face as his body heaved noticeably.

A fellow competitor -- Hungry Charles Hardy -- cried foul.

"He should be disqualified, period," said Hardy, a 5-foot-11, 360-pound New York City corrections officer who had 20 hot dogs. "Eric (Booker, who had 26 hot dogs) should have that belt."

Said Booker, who acknowledged he didn't actually see Kobayashi do anything against the rules: "It's my understanding that if you puke, you're disqualified."

George Shea, the chairman of the International Federation of Competitive Eating, said he would review the tapes, but two judges had confirmed Kobayashi's victory.

Kobayashi took the hot dogs out of their bun, then dunked the bun in water before eating both. He reportedly trains by eating cabbage and drinking water.

The contest, a Fourth of July tradition since 1916, took place at New York's Coney Island. The 20 top hot dog eaters in the world were entered.

ESPN.com's Darren Rovell contributed to this report