"A lot."

"When you first start out, you try to get in as many fights you can for the experience," Jimmy said. "Then when you get more established, you start looking for the big tournaments and maybe do a 'show' fight here or there."

Tiffany and Jimmy have both been boxing competitively for almost five years. But it isn't like they never threw a punch (or kick) before that.

"We've always been in the martial arts combat sports," Tiffany said. "Our dad (Jim Perez Sr.) ran a karate school.

"One day I said I wanted to do boxing. So they let me try it."

In 2005, Tiffany was a Junior Olympic National Champion.

This weekend, the Hammond residents are competing at the Golden Gloves tournament at St. Andrews Gym in Chicago. It's the first time that Tiffany, 17, and Jimmy, 26, are boxing in a tournament together.

And likely the last.

"I plan on going professional after this," said Jimmy, a light heavyweight who has advanced to the latter and championship rounds of previous Golden Gloves tournaments, but is still looking for his first title.

"I was planning to go pro last year, but (Tiffany) convinced me to stay amateur for another year so we can do (Golden Gloves) together."

For Tiffany, a bantamweight, this will be her first Golden Gloves.

"I'll be moving up to the women's division next year," said Tiffany, who is going to wait before even considering following her brother to the pro ranks.

As for the distance they travel for training -- that, too, is a lot. They primarily train at Team Chicago Boxing Club in Scottsdale Park, as well as the Harvey Boxing Club, where they began boxing.

The two even spar together, but mainly just to tune-up each other's techniques.

"We're 'Beauty and the Beast'," Jimmy said. "She's more side-to-side, like Floyd Mayweather or Sugar Ray Leonard -- a pretty style.