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Why was this era the “Golden Age of Boxing”?

Several factors contribute to this designation.

First, the heavyweight division was red-hot during the decade with a deep pool of talented challengers to go along with four supremely talented champions during the decade: Frazier, Foreman, Ali, and Holmes.

Second, the decade held probably the greatest matchup in boxing history. A "fight of the century" that actually lived up to its billing. How often are you going to have two undefeated heavyweights still in their primes each with a valid claim to THE legitimate heavyweight title? This fight was so big that it drew in millions of non-boxing fans who then continued to follow boxing for several years after that.

Boxing had an identifiable spokesperson during this decade in the charismatic Muhammad Ali who attracted attention in all that he did. Boxing also had other personalities in the decade that had more regionalized but still fanatical followings: Roberto Duran in the Latin World, Carlos Monzon in South American (and later Europe), and Rueben Olivares in Mexico.

Once people were attracted to the sport, the quality of the competition and the performers was outstanding in all the weight classes during the 1970s. These guys are in serious contention for the title of GOAT in their weight classes: heavyweight - Ali and Foreman, light-heavyweight - Bob Foster, middleweight - Carlos Monzon, super welterweight - Antonio Cervantes, lightweight - Roberto Duran, junior lightweight - Alexis Arguello, featherweight - Eder Jofre (although passed his best days), super bantamweight - Wilfredo Gomez, bantamweight - Rueben Olivares and Carlos Zarate.

Is boxing only “golden” when Americans dominate it?

Probably. It is just a fact that boxing needs the American fanbase and media to flourish. Is it wrong for Americans to cheer for Americans when every other country likewise cheers for its local hero? There is a reason that almost all the great fighters come to the U.S. for their big fights.

Why was boxing almost absent from sports coverage throughout the decade of the 00’s when Wladimir and Vassily Klitsco dominated it...The same could be asked bout the 1990s, and Lenox Lewis’s domination of the sport in that decade.

I think all three are underappreciated by American fight fans. I don't think that any of the three would have beaten a primetime Ali or a primetime Tyson, though.

I’m starting to think as Boomers fade from the scene there is going to be a lot of shuffling on the “best heavyweights” list. Who knows, Ali might even end up under Joe Louis.

Best heavyweight list will always be in flux. As time rolls on, more candidates have to be added to the list, necessitating that some get shuffled out. The one "modern" heavyweight that I think time will be favorable to is Evander Holyfield. Ali is probably rated above Joe Louis more often than not but I don't think it is frequent enough to say that it is the consensus. Personally, if the two fought three times, I think Ali wins the first, Louis the second (as he was always better in rematches) and third is truly a tossup (and if you forced me to make a call, I would say Ali by a split decision but I'd say it without much confidence).