I don't think it is race, but being a foreigner doesn't help. Lennox was the best heavy since Ali and was hated by the American public. Race isn't an issue really.
Posters are ***** footing around the answer. It's because he makes many (US) fans insecure, which is funny & sad at the same time. It's due to nationality and race. LL while a black guy was not given his due by many US fans becaue he was "British". All his detractors can do is point out his 2 stoppage losses, although he avenged both rather easily. Now with Wlad we have a white non US fighter that's HW king. And Wlad was only stopped by a fighters punches once - and vs the hard hitting CS he got up many times. Well the bigots insecurities are out in full force. I suppose he makes some white US fans realize that there is no (US) white HW anywhere near his talent... and it's obvious Wlad is a hard pill to swallow for most black US fans. These fans tend to be big Peter fans. Seems race trumps most factors for them :-( The US in general has become a soft nation. We are in economic decline to the east (East Europe, China, India, etc). The US that produced many top HW condtenders and champs no longer exists. Ironically a deep depression would boost US HW propects... but who would want that? It's also obvious that the "world" HW champ the US owned for nearly a century was really the West HW champ. The US HWs are all in the NBA/NFL argument is weak. There are 10,000s of athletic big men who don't make it to those leagues. If even 1% of them tried boxing that would be at least 100 potential prospects, of which 10 or so could make top contenders. But they don't, for whatever reasons. You can if this and if that all day long. If I was a better student, an if this, well I'd be making much more $ - if you know what I mean :think Bottom line, LL & K bros have been top HWs for over a decade now. You can get your panties tied in knots all you want but it's not going to change that reality :yep
I rebut that accessment. check this very forum prior to PBF Hatton. Hatton was getting murdered by criticis as PBF was being hailed.