They are not exactly the same however. In MMA clinching is used to deliver strikes at a close range while still maintaining power behind the strike. A knee thrown from the clinch compared to a standard knee strike actually puts fighters down quicker. The Clinch in MMA also helps set up takedowns as well.

A clinch in boxing is used to disrupt a fighters rhythm, slow the fight down, and at times it's used to avoid getting gassed. You can only do so much from a clinch in boxing. You can throw punches but those punches aren't that effective as a your standard jab when facing your opponent. In Boxing it stalls the fight there is nothing really going on and when fighters consistently do it it takes away from the excitment of the fight.

In MMA in the clinch there is still action going on. Knees, Feet stomping, punches, and takedowns. And believe Lennox handled Mike easily he was too long and tall besides everyone knows after two maybe three rounds Mike isn't winning.

Most of the time when MMA fighters go into the clinch they are "working", dealing damage with short strikes and attempting takedowns.

Most of the time when a Boxer go into the clinch it is to interrupter the other boxers rhythm, regain energy when gassed, and stall when hurt.

That is what makes boxing nearly unwatchable to me, it seems that hardly ever are boxers willing to exchange anymore, throw a few punches and clinch, rinse, repeat.

Both of you made some key points and then contradicted your points. If I didn't box for over 13 years and didn't much about boxing I would accept your answers.
Punching in the clinch is effect when used as a strategy. Here are a couple of boxers who were/are effect when using the clinch, Mike Tyson was very effective when he intiated the clinch and walked his opponents backwards beating them to the body. Bernard Hopkins and the champ Andre Ward are also good at using the clinch effectively. I can name many more boxers who broke their opponents down from the clinch.

@Shakyr

Contradicted...? MMA Clinch is actually something fighters work on during practice. They actually take time out to work on different strategies to take their opponent down or just dismantle them from close range.

In boxing the Clinch is to disrupt rhythm or to avoid being gassed. Never did I say they don't throw punches. But name how many Boxers have been knocked out from the Clinch...and then name how many MMA Fighters have been knocked out from the Clinch. In Boxing you can't kick your opponents shin, stomp on their feet, back them against the ropes and hold them there, or strike your opponent with a knee the face. The only thing you can do from the clinch in boxing is disrupt your opponents rhythm, avoid being gassed, and throw some punches to the body. Compared to MMA, Clinching in Boxing takes AWAY from the product where in MMA it's an addition to the product.

@jadakiss88, you are probably a hardcore MMA fan so of course you are going to like that Greco-Roman style wrestling. What you are trying to explain to heard it before have 2 brother who teach Martial Arts and train my son in boxing.
Clinching is clinching no matter what. I personally can't watch MMA. It's not for me. I only watch 3 fighters and that's it. MMA reminds me why I boxed when I was younger. I hated getting into wrestling matches on the ground.

I'm not bashing MMA, it's just not for everybody.

* I train my son in boxing.