I went into the Thai film “Beautiful Boxer,” the story of a transsexual kickboxer, fearing that it might be schlock like “Iron Ladies,” the 1999 comedy from the same country about a transsexual volleyball team.

Fortunately, I was wrong.

“Beautiful Boxer,” the feature debut of director Ekachai Uekrongtham, is an intelligent work that avoids exploitation and cheap laughs.

It is based on the true story of Nong Toom, a celebrated transgender boxer in Thailand.

Even as a young boy, Nong yearns to be a female – and he doesn’t try to hide it.

“I want to have soft skin, long hair and breasts,” he tells a playmate.

But the hormones and surgery needed for the change cost money, and Nong’s family is poor. A talented boxer, he takes to the ring to earn the cash.

We watch as Nong goes from mama’s boy, to young monk, to novice boxer, to mega-celebrity and, finally, to beautiful woman.

Asanee Suwan, a real-life kickboxing champ making his acting debut, sensitively portrays Nong. You can’t help but root for Asanee’s troubled character, in and out of the ring.

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BEAUTIFUL BOXER

[] (Three stars)

Knockout from Thailand. In Thai and English, with subtitles. Running time: 118 minutes. Not rated (violence, sexuality, brief male nudity). At the Village East, Second Avenue and 12th Street.