By Edward Chaykovsky

Veteran trainer Teddy Atlas views Terence Crawford (28-0, 20KOs) and Errol Spence Jr. (20-0, 17KOs) as two of the top up and coming fighters in the sport.

If eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao decides to come back to the ring, Atlas would like to see him face Crawford.

Pacquiao retired last month after defeating Timothy Bradley, who Atlas trained. The Filipino star is pursing a full-time career in politics and was recently elected to a senatorial position in the Philippines.

Crawford, who holds the WBO world title at 140-pounds, is heading into a world title unification with WBC junior welterweight champion Viktor Postol in July. The winner of the contest will be considered the top man at junior welterweight.

Atlas would also like to see Spence fight the best fighters in his weight class. Spence is getting very close to a world title shot. He is the mandatory challenger to IBF world champion Kell Brook and that contest will likely be ordered in the coming months.

"Obviously Crawford is a very good talent and his technique is good. He takes that talent within the vehicle of good technique where he can get the most out of his talent and displays it in the best way that makes sense for him. Even though he’s moving up in weight [for a fight with Pacquiao], he still has good reach and pretty good size," Atlas told On The Ropes Boxing Radio.

"Crawford is a very talented fighter, and right now he’s a very confident fighter too. I would like to see Crawford and Errol Spence in [with the best in] the welterweight division. I think Errol Spence is a very solid fighter, I don’t see any weaknesses, he does so many things solid and very well and on top of it he’s got good skill traits to go along with it, and he’s got that great amateur background."