Kevin “Kingpin� Johnson (14-0-1, 6 KOs) said he wanted to fight Philadelphia’s Malik Scott (27-0, 10 KOs).

So the two camps negotiated, but the Scott camp says Johnson asked for too much dough, considering what Showtime can offer per their ShoBox budget.

But Johnson, the Scott camp says, continued to call out Scott, even after the window to book the fight closed.

“Either you’re the man or you’re not,” said Goossen matchmaker Tom Brown in a release. “Malik Scott understands that and the dollars available on ShoBox, but was obviously willing to prove it against Johnson. Once you price yourself out, it is a resounding statement of thanks, but no thanks. I can respect that. But don’t call Malik out after this charade. That’s Boxing 101, for the rookies!â€?

That aside, it’s good news that Scott, who turned pro in 2000, is looking to step it up. He’s fought .500, and sub .500 guys til now, and we’ll soon see if he’s someone we should keep an eye on for the near future, or somebody who was being brought along slowly for a reason.

And Johnson’s been a busy beaver, calling out this guy and that. Hey, I like it. He offered to step up and fight Sultan Ibragimov when Shannon Briggs fell ill…you have to like that in a four-year pro who fought six times in 2006.