Former White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen believes it would be in Tim Anderson's best interests to leave Chicago and start fresh elsewhere.The Chicago White Sox and Tim Anderson may be nearing the tipping point in 2023 in light of Anderson's season-long struggles, and one former manager t...

French spirits maker Pernod Ricard SA is exploring a potential sale of its wine portfolio that features brands

When it comes to first impressions, nothing says ‘welcome’ like a stylish entrance. After all, it’s the first thing you see, and if you ever needed an excuse to decorate your entryway, the switch in seasons and rich autumn foliage is a fast track to des res doorscaping. It’s a trend that’s been inspired by social media stars such as Stacey Solomon and Zoe Sugg, says Wayfair’s resident style advisor, Dee Fontenot – who have all been embracing the ‘autumn doorscape,’ and transforming doors with pumpkins and golden hues. “Giving your front door a décor overhaul is a brilliant way to beat the end of summer blues,” opines Fontenot. “The traditional colours of autumn feel optimistic, with burnt orange shades, berry, honey, and warm oranges. It’s a super-soothing colour palette, that feels both cosy and comforting – the perfect welcome to arrive home to and brighten up the chillier months.” To master the art of decorating your doorway, Fontenot shares her top tips to make it instaworthy… and bring joy to everyone who enters… Versatile all-rounder “Dress up your door with a simple wreath that can be restyled as the seasons change,” suggests Fontenot. “While bristle grass and a burlap bow create a rustic vibe for autumn, pampas and dahlias will be a welcome addition come spring – and sunflowers will help ease the transition from the cooler months, making your wreath a star for all seasons.” If DIY isn’t your thing, she says a pre-arranged, handmade wreath decked in deep blue hues and burnt orange will be the perfect pick. “Easy to hang with some jute hanging string, it’s such a quick and easy way to give a front door a seasonal refresh.” Rustic vibes Fontenot says to take some inspiration from the countryside, and decorate a vintage-style wicker hamper with dried or faux flowers and greenery. “Combine a variety of sizes and colours – think wild moss combined with fluffy stems and the addition of luxe velvet pumpkins, or gourds for a spooky twist.” Mixed lanterns equipped with flickering LED candles will add a twinkle of rustic romance to your porch, she notes. “Complete with a pair of potted faux topiary on either side of your door to bring year-round kerb appeal,” adds Fontenot. Practical makes perfect Along with decorative homewares, Fontenot suggests introducing some practical elements to create an experience on your doorstep, “so it looks pretty whilst also being usable”. If you have the space, she says putting a bench at the front of your home will encourage you to spend extra time in the space. “It may be the front of your home catches more of the morning or afternoon sun and if a private spot, may well become your new favourite place for a quiet cup of tea in the autumn sunshine,” suggests Fontenot. Fall for faux “If your home hasn’t been treated to an abundance of autumn leaves over the doorway, that doesn’t mean you can’t achieve the look,” says Fontenot. “You can instantly bring pops of colour, using faux garlands,” she continues. “If you have bare vines above the doorway, simply use these to weave garlands of brown and orange leaves.” “Alternatively, use outdoor command hooks to frame the doorway, arching a spray of garlands from one side of the door for dramatic impact,” enthuses Fontenot. A smattering of fallen leaves, foraged conkers and autumn berries styled with pumpkin lights and a woolly blanket, complete the rustic, autumnal vibe. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live More than a quarter of middle-aged women living with ‘metabolically healthy obesity’ – study Jonnie Peacock on Strictly Come Dancing representation: ‘It’s important to break people’s perceptions’ What you need to know about depression during menopause – as Carol Vorderman opens up

The Warzone player count in 2023 records some of the game's lowest totals ever while the Fortnite player count surges to new heights.

By Greg Torode Singapore A senior NATO official on Friday urged Beijing to be more open about its

Lawyers for Donald Trump are due back in court Monday as a federal judge considers radically conflicting proposals for a trial date in the case accusing him of working to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election

Western powers through their support to Ukraine have effectively entered direct fighting against Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister...

Here's how to save Max in The Quarry.

The Texas Rangers are in on Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder/DH Andrew McCutchen. One problem, though: The Pirates don't plan on trading Cutch.Per Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the Rangers have inquired about Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen early in this trade season. That's all fine and...

Polish guards describe their concerns over Russia's Wagner group and the threat of unpredictability.

Reflecting on Arsenal's yeas as London's best team between 1995 and 2004.

It is a chilling statement uttered with the most flattering of intentions: “We’re dealing with a freak.” Those are the words of boxing promoter Ben Shalom, speaking over Zoom, pacing back and forth in a room that appears to have just a few small windows – just below the ceiling, along the back wall. You’d think he was a military commander fruitlessly planning how to take down Godzilla, but the Boxxer chief is in fact on the side of the monster in question here. And that monster is Adam Azim. It might seem an odd way to describe the 5ft 11in, 20-year-old super-lightweight, but put a pair of boxing gloves on the Briton and the results really are terrifying. “I remember when I was four years old,” the monster tells The Independent while lurking in a hallway inside Shane McGuigan’s gym. “My dad made me learn the basics at the back of the garden in Slough, he got me a speed ball in the garage. He used to put weighted hand wraps on me and make me do shadow boxing for like 20 minutes straight. Even when I was punching the speed ball, he used to put ankle weights on my legs and hands. I was very fast when I was young.” He is even faster now, his speed perhaps his greatest asset at this point in a fledgling professional career that is expected to grow into a captivating one. “When we saw him for the first time, we knew he was special,” says Shalom. “Everyone in boxing was talking about Adam Azim for a long time. We knew that a lot of promoters were going to be looking at him, and that we needed to secure him for a long time, because we believe that he can be literally one of the biggest stars that the country has seen – a household name. “We want him on the screens all the time. He almost reminds me of Amir Khan in 2005. Those were some of my earliest memories of boxing, Amir was boxing every couple of months on ITV and drawing huge audiences. We want to emulate that and take that to a new level.” Azim is still just 8-0, but with six emphatic knockout wins. “He looks at a lot of the world champions and believes that he would beat them in his next fight,” Shalom says, unquestionably serious, his eyes shark-like. “And Shane believes that. This is not a joke. “It’s high-risk, low-reward [for opponents]. I cannot tell you how feared this guy is; there’s world champions right now who would no way take a fight with him, even on a full camp’s notice, and I know that for a fact. We’re dealing with a freak, we’re dealing with a talent that you don’t see very often.” There is almost something humorous about the contrast between Shalom’s – clearly credible – observations and the unassuming way in which Azim speaks. He is, after all, just 20. But his life is not that of the average 20-year-old. Azim, like his highly-touted, 22-year-old brother Hassan, has been reared to be a champion. We discuss his love of action films – “The Raid, The Raid 2, all the Mission: Impossible films, I’m into DC and Marvel” – but that is the only extracurricular pastime that Azim allows himself. And it has been that way since he was young. Well, even younger. “I didn’t go out much,” he says. “I was always dedicated to boxing. I’d go swimming, cinema, or just chill out at a mate’s house. I didn’t really get to go out and explore, which... You’ve got to make sacrifices in your life. “Even now, I could go out and do a lot of stuff, but I’m just dedicated to my craft, because you can’t switch off in boxing. Footballers can do that because they have a team. All I really do on a weekend off is go for a walk, go round my mates’, or go to the cinema. That’s the same routine I’d done when I was younger. I ain’t gonna change it now, because you don’t wanna go the wrong way. I’ve got a goal to achieve, that’s all I wanna do.” Was there ever a threat of Azim going the ‘wrong way’? “I only went to secondary school for three months, because I was messing about, and my dad actually took me out and made me do home schooling so I could focus on boxing,” Azim says. “I believe if I’d gone to that school... I don’t know what I’d be doing now. My dad did the right thing, I thank my dad a lot for that.” Azim does seem genuinely grateful to be on this path, and to his dad for setting him on it. “He got me where I am today. He noticed I had that fighting spirit. In my family, our cousins and uncles are all fighters. I was meant to be a fighter – I can just feel it, you know?” Shalom agrees. “All he wants to do is fight; he would do it for free, he absolutely loves it. I’ve never met someone as focused as he is. It’s sometimes hard for Shane to calm him down. “It does take a lot for someone to become a star in boxing, there are so many elements that you can get wrong, [but] he’s made some really good decisions early on. His dad knows the game inside-out, and they’ve been preparing for this moment since he was about six years old. It literally is something that they knew was gonna come; they planned meticulously for the last 15 years. “You see tennis stars who’ve been taken around the world since they were young, they were almost bred to be No 1 in their sport. I really believe that’s how Adam has grown up. “He’s also a person who wants to stand for the right things and be the face of British boxing. We think he’s gonna be the one who really becomes synonymous with British boxing over the next five to 10 years.” You’d be a brave man to bet against a monster like this. Read More Built to survive, Dillian Whyte is fighting back and still here Dillian Whyte: ‘I was disappointed to lose to Tyson Fury, but if I lost 10 quid I’d be disappointed’ The Independent’s pound-for-pound boxing rankings Boxxer’s Ben Shalom: ‘I sacrificed my twenties, I sacrificed absolutely everything’ Leigh Wood and Chris Billam-Smith win world titles with victories over familiar foes Leigh Wood given message by trainer Ben Davison after controversial stoppage