Keith Thurman doesn’t think Manny Pacquiao or Mario Barrios deserved to win their welterweight title fight two months ago.

Thurman, who fought both, was impressed with certain aspects of how they boxed July 19 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. By the time the final bell rang, however, Thurman thought a draw was a fair result.

Pacquiao performed better than anticipated because he’s 46 and hadn’t fought in nearly four years. The Filipino legend still settled for a majority draw because Barrios won 115-113 on judge Max DeLuca’s scorecard while Tim Cheatham and Steve Weisfeld had it even, 114-114 apiece.

Thurman, who will challenge WBC junior middleweight champ Sebastian Fundora on October 25 in Las Vegas, blamed Pacquiao’s preparation for his inability to finish strong in the championship rounds.

“It’s hard to score a Pacquiao fight because of the crowd when he [throws punches],” Thurman told The Ring.

“I think he opened up very well in the opening six. I think those championship rounds, the last three in particular, he definitely was fading. He was not able to let his hands go. He slowed down to two-punch combos, not four, five and six punches we’ve seen in the past.

“At the post-fight press conference, Pacquiao said he only prepared for eight weeks. I think that’s where he knows he failed. At his age, he should’ve had a full [additional] month in preparation, which would be a 12-week training camp for himself. And then I think with the proper preparation he could’ve clearly got the victory.”

Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KOs) led by the same score, 87-84, through nine rounds according to Cheatham and Weisfeld. De Luca had Pacquiao in front by one point, 86-85, entering the 10th.

Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs), who is 16 years younger and six inches taller, swept the final three rounds on all three scorecards and retained his WBC 147-pound championship. Whereas Thurman would’ve preferred Pacquiao to close stronger, he believes Barrios’ slow start cost him.

“Mario Barrios, he was working behind that jab very well,” Thurman said. “I think he showed too much respect to Pacquiao. And if anybody really could’ve won that night, I think it’s the young man if he pushed himself. His trainers were demanding it and it wasn’t happening. ....

“You gotta assert yourself in that ring and, at 46 years old, Pacquiao didn’t lose to a young champion. Like that’s a statement. Of course it would’ve been nice if he could’ve won and for Barrios if he would've won. But the fact [is] it was not entertaining enough to make a real rematch out of it.”

Thurman (31-1, 23 KOs, 1 NC), the former WBA/WBC welterweight champ, has lost only a split decision to Pacquiao in July 2019 in Las Vegas. He beat Barrios by unanimous decision there in February 2022

The Clearwater, Florida, native will fight for just the third time in the six years since he lost to Pacquiao when he faces Fundora (23-1-1, 15 KOs), a 6-foot-6 southpaw from Coachella, California. Their 154-pound title fight will headline a Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view show at MGM.