Montreal's Top 10 modern-era bar brawlers

These characters are all discussed in my upcoming book Want In? You're In. The West End Gang Story.

10 - Murray Jones (1940-1981) Stick up man and street fighter from the St. Antoine Street area. Went to prison for a long time after shooting a guy in a bar and then a taxi driver while on the lam. A lack of redeeming qualities didn't prevent three women from being passionately in love him for a long time. Shot himself during a police standoff in the Point. 

9 - Roddy Diamond (1941-2015) Former boxer who spent many wakng hours in bars southwestern Montreal.. Diamond ran for mayor of Verdun in 1973. He was barred from Magnans Tavern for making a fuss about English rights. Narrowly missed getting shot dead in a tavern in LaSale in 1983. 

8- George Baldo (1938-1986) Much feared doorman and dapper scrapper. Sported a diamond on his pinkie finger and drove a big gray Cadillac with black seats monogrammed with his initials. 

7 - Jamie Larammee  (1976-2013) Took offence to anybody perceived to be speaking ill of the Matticks crime family. Killed a guy in a brawl on Monk Street. He was shot dead in a bar on Newman Blvd. in LaSalle along with his brother Cody. Police never solved the double murder.

McManus at right

6 - Mike Mcmanus (1962- ) Boxer from the Point who partook in dozens of brawls and once felled the aging giant Andre "Tiny" Morin. Earned legendary status after surviving six point-blank gunshots at the Palomino bar on Wellington in 1987. Now clean and reformed with religion.

5 - Dave Hilton Sr. (1940-2023) Champion boxer and dad of the fighting Hiltons. Once broke the leg of his pal who was trying breaking up his fight in the Hunter’s Horn on Peel.

4- Tommy Sullivan (d. 1975)  Did much of the fighting at Smitty’s at Cavendish and Sherbrooke in the early 70s. Moved to Ontario where his son shot him dead for beating on his mom. One of his brothers beat a guy to death in a bar in Alexis Nihon Plaza.

3 - Johnny McGuire (1929-1984) Former boxer considered the founder of the West End Gang. Once beat up boxing champ Charlie Chase at the Chez Paree as well as a football star at Peel and St. Catherine in two of his better-known brawls.

2 - Norman Smith (1920-1980) Prolific fighter as bouncer at the Cavendish Club, the 1&2 in the Point and co-owner Smitty's. Had a plate in his skull from his fights. Once disarmed the giant Machine Gun McNally.

1 - Bob Geary  (1933-2001) Longtime CFL football star. Came out as gay after retiring form the Montreal Alouettes as general manager in 1981. Fought countless bar battles and rarely lost. Was known to loudly announce at bars: “The two things I love doing most are fighting and s*****g d***k!"